Message 2436: TUESDAY 18 JUNE (evening): ENGLISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA with ROBERTO FORES VESES at CADOGAN HALL (tickets at the special price of £8, but advance purchase from Cadogan Hall required) The English Chamber Orchestra (ECO - http://www.englishchamberorchestra.co.uk ) has kindly offered my group of friends up to 50 tickets at £5 each for their Cadogan Hall concert on Tuesday 18 June, starting at 7.30pm. This programme is inspired by Mozart's time in Paris. Concert Programme: The English Chamber Orchestra, under the baton of the Spanish conductor Roberto Forés Veses, will perform the following works: Thomas Adès Three Studies from Couperin Mozart Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major (K. 488) Reynaldo Hahn Overture to Mozart Bizet Symphony No. 1 in C major There will be an interval of 20 minutes starting at about ​8.15pm (after the ​Mozart), and the concert will finish at about ​9.15pm. Tom Borrow ( https://www.tomborrow.com ) will be the soloist in the piano concerto. For more details, click on https://cadoganhall.com/whats-on/english-chamber-orchestra-with-roberto-fores-veses-june-2024 . Venue & Transportation: Cadogan Hall (Sloane Terrace, SW1X 9DQ) is very close to Sloane Square tube station (District & Circle Lines, Zone 1). To find Cadogan Hall from this station, turn right and you will be able to see the hall directly ahead of you. You may like to look at the map, bus details and parking suggestions on Cadogan Hall's website: http://www.cadoganhall.com/your-visit/getting-here (scroll down as necessary). Ticket Price: We have been offered tickets at the special price of £8 (original price: £29), a considerable reduction. (The normal prices for seats for this concert are £12, £21, £29, £37 and £45.) However, you will need to pay an additional £4 booking fee (per transaction, not per ticket) to Cadogan Hall when purchasing your tickets. Please be discreet about this offer and make no mention whatsoever of your discounted tickets (including at the venue or on social media), or future offers could be jeopardised. Seating: Please note that the seats offered to my members for this concert are the "green" seats (the middle price, Band C), and you can choose to sit in the Gallery or the Stalls. You can select your own seat(s) when you book on-line as detailed below. Ticket Purchase: You will need to purchase tickets in advance using the promotional code GBEIGHTECO. You will need to do this on-line as this promotional code is not valid for in-person or phone bookings. Unless our allocation is reached earlier, the code will be valid until just before the concert, but my allocation is capped at 50, and the earlier you book the more choice of seating you will have. To book, click on https://cadoganhall.com/whats-on/english-chamber-orchestra-18-06-2024/book/934234 and select either Gallery or Stalls to view available seating. Remember to enter and apply the promotional code when you reach the "Basket" page (on the right-hand side of this page), before going to "Checkout". You should then see that you have saved £21 a ticket. Remember that the code (GBEIGHTECO) will only work for green (£29) seats. Cadogan Hall is changing to e-ticketing, and you should, if possible, be prepared to show your ticket(s) on a mobile device or print your ticket(s) at home. However, if (like me) you have neither a smartphone nor easy access to printing facilities, you will be able to collect your ticket(s) from the Box Office on arrival - just select this option at the Checkout. Summary of Timings: 6pm - doors to foyer open; 7pm - concert hall opens; 7.30pm - concert starts; ​8.15pm (approx.) - interval starts; ​8.35pm (approx.) - second part of concert starts; ​9.15pm (approx.) - concert ends. Meeting Gordon: As I am not needed for ticket distribution, you will find me near the bar in the foyer from around 7pm and during the interval. Suggestion: The interval is only 20 minutes, so I suggest you pre-order your interval drinks before the performance starts. Planning to Bring Children? Please do not bring children unless they can sit still and quietly.

Message 2435: TUESDAY 23 APRIL (evening): DANIEL BEDINGFIELD at THE LONDON PALLADIUM (booking with Chai Chin required by ​6pm on ​Monday 22 April) FRIDAY 26 APRIL (evening): CHARLES ESTEN at THE LONDON PALLADIUM (booking with Chai Chin required by no later than ​10pm on ​Wednesday 24 April) My friend, Chai Chin Stevens, has a limited number of tickets for Daniel Bedingfield, a New Zealand-born, London-raised pop artist, at The London Palladium, Argyll Street, W1F 7TF, for the following performance: Tuesday 23 April, 6.45pm. Click on https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/daniel-bedingfield for more details of the performance, and https://www.facebook.com/danielbedingfld/?locale=en_GB and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Bedingfield to learn more about the performer. Chai Chin also has tickets for American singer-songwriter and actor Charles Esten, also at The London Palladium, for the following performance: Friday 26 April, 7pm. Click on https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/charles-esten for more details of the performance, and https://www.charlesesten.com and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Esten to learn more about the performer. Please note that, for both these performances, children below the age of 4 will not be admitted, and children below the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is at least 18 years old. Patrons around you may stand during these performances. You can find a map showing the location of this theatre by clicking on https://tinyurl.com/2khxe44a . The nearest tube station is Oxford Circus (Bakerloo, Victoria and Central Lines, Zone 1). Booking with Chai Chin: Please e-mail Chai Chin at ccstevens@... (ccstevens "at" chaichin "dot" org "dot" uk), including the name and date of the performance you are requesting in the subject heading, and, in the text of your message, state your name and the number of tickets you would like. Booking should normally be done by e-mail, not by phone, but if you do not hear back from her within a reasonable time you can always call or text Chai Chin to check whether your request was successful (her phone number is 07956-384781). She will try to reply to requests within 24 hours (and in any case by the morning of your requested performance), and if your request is successful, she will ask you to reply to confirm that you will definitely use the tickets. Should you have any queries, please contact Chai Chin and not myself. Deadlines for Booking: Please request your tickets for the performance on Tuesday 23 April by no later than 6pm on Monday 22 April, and for the performance on Friday 26 April by no later than 10pm on Wednesday 24 April. Ticket Collection: You will need to allow sufficient time to meet Chai Chin (or one of her helpers) to collect your tickets, usually about 45 to 60 minutes before the performance, a few minutes' walk from the theatre. Chai Chin will inform successful applicants of the meeting arrangements. Do NOT go to the theatre without having first collected your ticket(s). Important: Please be discreet about this offer and make no mention whatsoever of these tickets (including at the venue or on social media), or future such offers could be jeopardised. Please note that you must not telephone nor visit the Box Office about your tickets, and you are expected to sit in the seats allocated to you.

Message 2434: SATURDAY 25 MAY (evening): CONCERT in CELEBRATION OF BULGARIAN CULTURE at the BRITTEN THEATRE, ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC (complimentary tickets, but advance booking through Eventbrite required) The Event: The Bulgarian Cultural Institute is organising this gala concert to celebrate the holiday of Bulgarian enlightenment and culture (which actually falls on 24 May), and to promote Bulgarian cultural diplomacy in the UK. The concert will be opened by the Bulgarian Minister of Culture and the new Bulgarian Ambassador to the UK, and it will be followed by a cocktail reception at the nearby Bulgarian Embassy. The concert will take place on Saturday 25 May, at the Britten Theatre (RCM), starting at 7pm. The Concert: The performers will include the icon of world opera, Bulgarian singer Raina Kabaivanska ( https://rainakabaivanska.net/en ) and artists from her school; Aleksandrina Mihailova, Soprano; Veronica Simeoni, Mezzosoprano; Hae Kang, Baritone; Giuseppe Infantino, Tenor; and Boryana Lambreva, Piano. Venue and Transport Details: The Royal College of Music (RCM) is on Prince Consort Road, SW7 2BS, almost opposite the Royal Albert Hall. The nearest underground stations are South Kensington and Gloucester Road on the District, Circle and Piccadilly lines. The RCM is a 10-minute walk from each station. Bus numbers 9, 10, 52 and 452 stop outside the Royal Albert Hall, just a 3-minute walk away. The number 360 stops directly outside the RCM on Prince Consort Road, and the 70 runs along nearby Queen's Gate. See https://www.rcm.ac.uk/life/location or http://tinyurl.com/klhymy for a map, and https://www.rcm.ac.uk/visit/discover/#d.en.41553 for transportation details. The Britten Theatre has its own special entrance - you do not need to go in through the main doors to the RCM. To Book: I suggest you book as soon as possible, while places remain. Click on https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/celebration-of-the-holiday-of-bulgarian-culture-and-enlightenment-may-24-tickets-879592012387?aff=oddtdtcreator , select the number of seats you require, and complete your details (name and e-mail address). Avoid wasting places - please do not book for others unless you are sure that they will be able to attend. After booking, you should receive an e-mail confirmation, which you are advised to take with you on the night to speed up entry. Timings: The concert will start at 7pm. I plan to arrive between 6.30pm and 6.45pm, and I suggest you do the same. The whole event will finish by 10pm. Afterwards: After the concert, there will be an official cocktail reception at the Bulgarian Embassy, 186-188 Queen's Gate, SW7 5HL. Click on https://tinyurl.com/49yz2mp9 for a map. To go home afterwards, you will find it slightly nearer to walk to Gloucester Road than South Kensington tube station. SUMMARY OF FUTURE EVENTS: Sat 13 April: concert for violin and piano at St. James's Church, Piccadilly, starting at 7pm (tickets at the special price of £7.50 when purchased in advance through Eventbrite using promotional code GBlist - click on https://groups.io/g/gordonbeal/message/2430 for details); Sun 21 April: 1.45pm/1.55pm: outside French Protestant Church, Soho Square for "In the Steps of the French in Soho", a guided walk (sorry, but this is now sold out - click on https://groups.io/g/gordonbeal/message/2432 for details, and on https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/gordons-group-offer-walking-tour-in-the-steps-of-the-french-in-soho-tickets-872690971187 if you want to join the waiting list); Tues 30 April: London Firebird Orchestra concert at St. George's, Hanover Square, starting at 7.30pm (50 tickets at the special price of £5, but advance purchase required, using promotional code GORDON24 - deadline: 6pm on Sun 28 April - click on https://groups.io/g/gordonbeal/message/2433 for details); Sat 25 May: concert to celebrate Bulgarian culture (details above).

Message ​2433: TUESDAY 30 APRIL (evening): LONDON FIREBIRD ORCHESTRA: "BOHEMIA!" at ST. GEORGE'S, HANOVER SQUARE (50 tickets at the special price of £5, but advance purchase required - deadline: 6pm on Sunday 28 April) Marc Corbett-Weaver, Artistic Director of the London Firebird Orchestra (LFO), has kindly offered my members up to 50 tickets at the specially discounted price of £5 for their concert on Tuesday 30 April at St. George's, Hanover Square, starting at 7.30pm. Click on http://www.marccorbett-weaver.com/biography to read more about Marc. The Programme: Beethoven's Leonore Overture No.3, Op. 72; Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K.466; and, after the interval, Dvorak's Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88. The concert will be conducted by London-born George Jackson ( https://georgejackson.net ), and British pianist Martin James Bartlett ( https://www.martinjamesbartlett.co.uk/about ) will be the soloist in the piano concerto. You can see more details at https://www.londonfirebird.com/2024/03/13/bohemian-rhapsody . A QR code with the programme link will be displayed at the venue on the night. Venue and Transport Details: The concert will be held in the Parish Church of Saint George, St. George Street, W1S 1FX ( http://www.stgeorgeshanoversquare.org ), just south of Hanover Square. You may like to view a map at https://tinyurl.com/3yasnar8 and further information at http://www.stgeorgeshanoversquare.org/Getting-here.html . The nearest tube station is Oxford Circus (Central, Victoria and Bakerloo Lines, Zone 1), but Bond Street, Piccadilly Circus and Green Park stations are also within easy walking distance. The Orchestra: The LFO is an exciting orchestra whose Patron is Dame Judi Dench. You may like to check the website to see more details of the orchestra, its people and of forthcoming concerts: http://www.firebirdorchestra.com . Ticket Price: We have been offered tickets at the special price of £5 (including the booking fee) for tickets in the third tier. The original price of third tier tickets is £20 (plus a booking fee of £1.68 per ticket), so we are lucky to get the tickets for less than a quarter of this. Tickets for the second and first tier cost £30 and £40 respectively. Booking/Payment Procedure: Click on https://www.londonfirebird.com/events/bohemia , then click on "Ticketsource" (bottom of the screen), or alternatively click directly on https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/RevolutionArts/t-nodlyqr , and then on "BOOK NOW". Then select the number of "Third tier" tickets you want to purchase and click on "Next". Type (or copy and paste) GORDON24 in the space for a discount code, and select Eticket for delivery (this delivery option is free) or Mobile ticket (cost: 50 pence) if you prefer to have your tickets sent to your mobile phone. (Importantly, the code needs to be typed in UPPERCASE letters and Tier 3 needs to be selected.) Then click on "use discount code". You should see that your total cost has been discounted by £16.68 a ticket, so that you will pay £5.00 (including the booking fee) instead of £20.00 (plus the booking fee). Click on "checkout" to make your purchase by debit or credit card. Note that there is NO NEED to print your ticket(s) as your name will be on a guest list. The deadline for booking is 6pm on Sunday 28 April, but the offer could be withdrawn earlier should my allocation of 50 tickets become fully subscribed. Please be aware that only those who have purchased their tickets in advance will be able to avail themselves of the special price for my group as no discounted tickets will be available on the night, and anyone arriving without having prepaid will need to pay the full price. Should you have any queries regarding your booking, please email Info@... (info "at" FirebirdOrchestra "dot" com) and not myself. On Arrival: Please note that you will not be allowed inside the church until the doors open at 6.45pm. Enter the church by the middle doors and go to the ticket desk where your name(s) will be ticked off (no paper tickets will be issued), and you will be given your seat numb

Message 2432: SUNDAY 21 APRIL (afternoon): GUIDED WALK "IN THE STEPS OF THE FRENCH IN SOHO" (special "Gordon's group" price of £7 until 2pm on Sunday 14 April, and £10 thereafter) The Event: On this tour, we will discover French history in the heart of London. We will be guided by Christian Michel, founder of the French London Experience ( https://frenchlondonexperience.com/about ) and a member of my group. He will tell us about the history of London's Soho area that in the 19th century was known as the "French Quarter" as large numbers of Huguenots settled there to escape persecution in France. Nowadays, Soho is famous for its nightlife, but it contains many shops, buildings and statues linked to this period, including the French Protestant and Catholic Churches and the famous "French House". You can see more details and a short video at https://frenchlondonexperience.com/french-soho . The tour will be given in English, but is intended primarily for adults with an interest in French culture and history. It is not advisable to bring children, unless they have a French background or a particular interest in things French. We will walk around 2 miles or 3 ¼ km. This is a repeat of the walk we did on Sunday 26 November 2023. That event became fully booked very quickly, so we have decided to repeat it. Afterwards: The walk will finish outside a French bakery, where some of you may like to join Christian and me for a drink and/or snack. This is Oree Bakery ( https://www.oree.co.uk ), at 21-22 New Row, WC2N 4LA. The bakery serves pastries and sandwiches, and hot and cold drinks. You can see a map at https://tinyurl.com/ypczevdz . The nearest station for your journey home is Leicester Square (Northern and Piccadilly Lines). Transport and Meeting Point: Normally, I would suggest an optional meeting point at a nearby station. However, the nearest station, Tottenham Court Road, is a large and busy station with four exits, so we will meet outside the French Protestant Church, 8-9 Soho Square, W1D 3QD, between 1.45pm and 1.55pm for a prompt 2pm departure. For a map, click on https://tinyurl.com/yt43ks84 - look for "PW" (place of worship) to the left of the arrow. Tottenham Court Road is served by the Central, Northern and Elizabeth Lines, and exit no. 1 is the best exit to use. Summary of Timings: Meeting - 1.45pm/1.55pm; Departure - 2pm; End of Tour - around 4pm/4.15pm in the Covent Garden area. The walk may last a bit longer if we are distracted by the animation of Soho, as Christian is always keen to share his passion and to reply to any questions. The Cost: Christian normally charges £16 a person, but for this private tour he has kindly offered my members places at £7 until a week before the tour (2pm on Sunday 14 April). After that, the price will increase to £10, and this price will stay in force while tickets remain. Please note that these prices do not include Eventbrite's fees, so you will pay £8.30 (Earlybird price) or £11.55 (during the last week). Booking/Payment Procedure: This will be by Eventbrite, and places need to be booked and paid for in advance. The event is limited to 25 participants, and the number of places remaining is shown on the Eventbrite booking page. To book and pay, click on https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/gordons-group-offer-walking-tour-in-the-steps-of-the-french-in-soho-tickets-872690971187 , and then on "Get tickets". Then select either "Gordon's Group - Earlybird" (£7) or "Gordon's Group - Last week" (£10), depending on when you are booking, and select the number of tickets you want before going to "Check out". There is a limit of 4 places per booking. Immediately after booking, you should receive an e-mail confirmation. There is no need to print your ticket, nor show it on a mobile device, as Christian will have your name on the guest list. SUMMARY OF FUTURE EVENTS: Sat 13 April: concert for violin and piano at St. James's Church, Piccadilly, starting at 7pm (tickets at the special price of £7.50 when purchased in advance through Eventbrite using promotional code GBlist - click on https://groups.

Message 2431: MONDAY 25 MARCH and WEDNESDAY 27 MARCH (evenings): "DESERT ISLAND DISCS: THE LIVE SHOW" at THE LONDON PALLADIUM (booking with Chai Chin required by 24 hours before each show) My friend, Chai Chin Stevens, has a limited number of tickets for "Desert Island Discs: The Live Show" at The London Palladium, Argyll Street, W1F 7TF, for the following shows: Monday 25 March, 7pm; Wednesday 27 March, 7pm. The shows will be hosted by Lauren Laverne, who will be joined by special guests ("castaways") Asif Kapadia. Katherine Ryan and Sue Perkins on Monday, and Melanie C, Russell T. Davies and Ellie Simmonds on Wednesday. Click on https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/desert-island-discs-the-live-show for more details. The finishing time is around 9.45pm. Important - please be aware that there is a minimum age of 16 for these shows. You can find a map showing the location of this theatre by clicking on https://tinyurl.com/2khxe44a . The nearest tube station is Oxford Circus (Bakerloo, Victoria and Central Lines). Booking with Chai Chin: Please e-mail Chai Chin at ccstevens@... (ccstevens "at" chaichin "dot" org "dot" uk), including the name and date of the performance you are requesting in the subject heading, and, in the text of your message, state your name and the number of tickets you would like. Booking should normally be done by e-mail, not by phone, but if you do not hear back from her within a reasonable time you can always call or text Chai Chin to check whether your request was successful (her phone number is 07956-384781). She will try to reply to requests within 24 hours (and in any case by the morning of your requested performance), and if your request is successful, she will ask you to reply to confirm that you will definitely use the tickets. Should you have any queries, please contact Chai Chin and not myself. Deadline for Booking: Please request your tickets by no later than 7pm on Sunday 24 March to request tickets for Monday 25 March, and by 7pm on Tuesday 26 March to request tickets for Wednesday 27 March. Ticket Collection: You will need to allow sufficient time to meet Chai Chin (or one of her helpers) to collect your tickets, usually about 45 to 60 minutes before the performance, a few minutes' walk from the theatre. Chai Chin will inform successful applicants of the meeting arrangements. Do NOT go to the theatre without having first collected your ticket(s). Important: Please be discreet about this offer and make no mention whatsoever of these tickets (including at the venue or on social media), or future such offers could be jeopardised. Please note that you must not telephone nor visit the Box Office about your tickets, and you are expected to sit in the seats allocated to you.

Message ​2430: SATURDAY 13 APRIL (evening): BRAHMS' VIOLIN SONATAS with VIOLINIST ALDA DIZDARI and PIANIST TOM BLACH at ST. JAMES'S, PICCADILLY (tickets at the special price of £7.50 when purchased in advance through Eventbrite using promotional code GBlist) Alda Dizdari has kindly offered my group of friends up to 100 tickets at the special price of £7.50 for her forthcoming concert, taking place on Saturday 13 April at St. James's Church, Piccadilly, starting at 7pm. The Programme: The concert will start with short performances given by three rising stars (Alda's violin students): Jaspar Chan (12, from Hong Kong), Kutay Kayabinay (13, from Turkey) and Asta Murray (11, British), all either currently or soon to be studying at The Purcell School. We will then hear the complete set of Brahms' three Violin Sonatas, one sonata before the interval and two afterwards. These are referred to as "Violin Sonatas", although they were written for violin and piano. You can see more details at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/brahms-complete-sonatas-for-piano-and-violin-tickets-853108609817 . The Musicians: The violin sonatas will be performed by the Romanian-trained UK-based Albanian violinist Alda Dizdari ( https://aldadizdari.co.uk ), the organiser of the concert, and British pianist Tom Blach. The Venue: The address is St. James's Church, 197 Piccadilly, W1J 9LL. The nearest tube station is Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly and Bakerloo Lines), but it is also within easy walking distance from Green Park (Piccadilly, Jubilee and Victoria Lines). You can view a map at https://tinyurl.com/y7pk72dd . Summary of Timings: The church will open at 6.30pm, and the performance will start at 7pm. There will be an interval of 20 minutes starting at about ​8pm, and the concert will end at about ​9pm. Cost of Tickets: The usual cost of tickets is £15, £25 and £35 (inclusive of booking fees). My group has been offered £15 tickets at £7.50 (a discount of 50%), in advance only (not on the door). Booking Procedure and Payment: Click on https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/brahms-complete-sonatas-for-piano-and-violin-tickets-853108609817 , and then on "Get tickets". Use GBlist for the Promo Code. After clicking on "Apply", you should see that tickets for seats in the left and right side pews have been reduced by 50% from £15 to £7.50. (The code is only valid for the £15 tickets.) After clicking on "Check out", you will see that payment can be made by credit/debit card or by PayPal or Google Pay. Immediately after paying, you should receive a confirmation e-mail. Although there will be a guest list, it would be helpful if you could print and bring your ticket, or show it on a mobile device. Important: Please make sure that you have successfully applied the discount before making payment, as refunds cannot be offered to anyone making mistakes when booking. Remember that the code only works for the £15 tickets. Seating: Please note that the seats allocated to us are in the side pews (both left and right), so please stay in these areas. It is "free seating" within each area. The centre nave is reserved for those paying higher prices. Children: Please do not bring children unless they can sit still and quietly, and in any case please note that the minimum age for children is 10 years. More Details about Alda: If you would like to subscribe to her YouTube channel, please click on https://www.youtube.com/@AldaDizdari . SUMMARY OF FUTURE EVENTS: Thurs 21 March: piano recital at St. James's, Piccadilly, starting at 7.30pm (50 tickets at the special price of £5 - a few tickets still available - click on https://groups.io/g/gordonbeal/message/2425 for details); Tues 26 March: The Anna Wolf Experience (performance by singer-songwriter Anna Wolf and launch of her poetry book 'Medicine') at 75 Dean Street, W1D 3SU, starting at 6pm (free event with no booking required, but Gordon's friends who RSVP'd by Tues 5 March to annawolfmanagement@... will receive a complimentary gift at the event - for details, click on https://groups.io/g/gordonbeal/message/2422 ); Sat 13 April: Alda

Message 2429: THURSDAY 14 MARCH (evening): "ROSS NOBLE - JIBBER JABBER JAMBOREE" at THE LONDON PALLADIUM (booking with Chai Chin required by no later than ​10pm on ​Wednesday 13 March) My friend, Chai Chin Stevens, has a limited number of tickets for "Ross Noble - Jibber Jabber Jamboree" at The London Palladium, Argyll Street, W1F 7TF, for the following performance: Thursday 14 March, 7.30pm. Click on https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/ross-noble-jibber-jabber-jamboree for more details. Scroll down to click on videos, to give you an idea of Ross Noble's one-man shows. Please be aware that this performance is recommended for those at least 15 years of age. There will be an interval of 20 minutes starting at about 8.25pm, and the show will end around 10pm. You can find a map showing the location of this theatre by clicking on https://tinyurl.com/2khxe44a . The nearest tube station is Oxford Circus (Bakerloo, Victoria and Central Lines). Booking with Chai Chin: Please e-mail Chai Chin at ccstevens@... (ccstevens "at" chaichin "dot" org "dot" uk), including the name and date of the performance you are requesting in the subject heading, and, in the text of your message, state your name and the number of tickets you would like. Booking should normally be done by e-mail, not by phone, but if you do not hear back from her within a reasonable time you can always call or text Chai Chin to check whether your request was successful (her phone number is 07956-384781). She will try to reply to requests within 24 hours (and in any case by the morning of your requested performance), and if your request is successful, she will ask you to reply to confirm that you will definitely use the tickets. Should you have any queries, please contact Chai Chin and not myself. Deadline for Booking: Please request your tickets by no later than 10pm on Wednesday 13 March. Ticket Collection: You will need to allow sufficient time to meet Chai Chin (or one of her helpers) to collect your tickets, usually about 45 to 60 minutes before the performance, a few minutes' walk from the theatre. Chai Chin will inform successful applicants of the meeting arrangements. Do NOT go to the theatre without having first collected your ticket(s). Important: Please be discreet about this offer and make no mention whatsoever of these tickets (including at the venue or on social media), or future such offers could be jeopardised. Please note that you must not telephone nor visit the Box Office about your tickets, and you are expected to sit in the seats allocated to you.

Message 2428: SATURDAY 16 MARCH (evening): A MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF NOWRUZ (IRANIAN/PERSIAN NEW YEAR): PERSIAN, KURDISH AND AZARI MUSIC at SOAS (30 tickets for "Gordon's friends" at the special admission price of £5 on the door, to be booked with Peyman by no later than 8pm on Thursday 14 March - maximum of 4 tickets per person) The Programme: This will be a vibrant celebration of Nowruz with the rich sounds of Persian, Kurdish and Azari music. It is organised by Dr. Peyman Heydarian (a member of my group known to many of you) and the SOAS Daf Society. This promises to be an unforgettable experience filled with music, poetry and community spirit. Click on http://tinyurl.com/35m6msrd (Eventbrite) to read more about this event, and scroll down to read about Nowruz. About Peyman Heydarian: The main organiser is Iranian-born Peyman Heydarian ( http://www.thesantur.com ), an internationally known award-winning music scientist and santur virtuoso who has adopted an innovative tuning system and performance techniques that makes playing a multi-ethnic repertoire possible. You may like to read about the santur here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santur . You can hear a recording of Peyman on a BBC Radio 3 programme at https://soundcloud.com/santurista/peyman-heydarian-shur-e-simin-in-bakhtiary-tx-06-06-2020 . Peyman is also a computer scientist, focusing on AI and Digital Signal Processing. The Instruments: The instruments will include the santur, daf (Kurdish frame drum), tombak (Persian goblet drum) and voice (in Persian, Kurdish and Azari), and there will also be a short dohol and zorna performance and short poetry recitations in Persian, Azari and English. The Cost: The normal cost of tickets is £25, £15 for concessions and £10 for SOAS students. However, Peyman has very kindly offered up to 30 of my members tickets at the special price of £5 (cash only) on the door. Please note that this price only applies to those who book by the deadline and arrive on time. Timings: I will sell tickets between 8pm and 8.25pm (see below). The doors will open at 8.30pm and the concert will start shortly after that, and finish between ​9.45pm and 10pm. Booking Procedure: Please reserve your ticket(s) in advance by e-mailing Peyman at events.santur@... by no later than 8pm on Thursday 14 March. Please head your message with the following subject: "GB 16/3/2024", and in the text of you message state your full name and the total number of tickets you require (maximum 4 per applicant). You should receive an e-mail acknowledging your request within about 48 hours, and in any case by the morning of Friday 15 March. Please type your surname (family name) in CAPITAL letters so that Peyman can produce a guest list in alphabetical order. You do not need to give the name of your guest(s), if any (for example: John SMITH; 3 places please). Please do not book unless you are sure that you will be able to attend and arrive on time. Important: Please note that there are two concerts, one starting at 7pm and the second starting at 8.30pm, and my group have been offered a special price for the 8.30pm concert only. Venue and Transport Details: The event will take place in the Khalili Lecture Theatre (KLT), Main Building, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS - http://www.soas.ac.uk ), WC1H 0XG. If you are coming from Russell Square, the Main Building is on your right as you enter the SOAS precinct, and opposite the Brunei Gallery Building. To view a street plan, go to http://tinyurl.com/cgtlqp . You will probably need to sign in at the security desk - just write "KLT" in the "visiting" column. KLT is in the basement. Since I will be dealing with ticket distribution, there will be no meeting point at a station. The nearest tube station is Russell Square (Piccadilly Line), but you can also walk from Goodge Street (Northern Line) or Euston Square (Hammersmith and City, Circle and Metropolitan Lines). Ticket Collection: I will sell tickets (cash only) at a table outside KLT to those on the guest list between 8pm and 8.25pm. If you have the correct change, tha

Message 2427: MONDAY 4 MARCH (evening): "AN EVENING WITH ARMISTEAD MAUPIN" at GILLIAN LYNNE THEATRE (booking with Chai Chin required by no later than 10pm on Sunday 3 March) My friend, Chai Chin Stevens, has a limited number of tickets for "An Evening with Armistead Maupin" on Monday 4 March at 7.30pm. American writer Armistead Maupin ( https://www.armisteadmaupin.com ) will be in conversation with English actor Russell Tovey. Click on https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/armistead-maupin-2 for details of this event. Theatre Location: Gillian Lynne Theatre is at 166 Drury Lane, WC2B 5PW. You can find a map showing its location by clicking on https://www.officialtheatre.com/gillian-lynne-theatre/map . The nearest tube stations are Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line) and Holborn (Piccadilly and Central Lines). Booking with Chai Chin: Please e-mail Chai Chin at ccstevens@... , including the name and date of the performance you are requesting in the subject heading, and, in the text of your message, state your name and the number of tickets you would like. Booking should normally be done by e-mail, not by phone, but if you do not hear back from her within a reasonable time you can always call or text Chai Chin to check whether your request was successful (her phone number is 07956-384781). She will try to reply to requests within 24 hours (and in any case by the morning of the performance), and if your request is successful, she will ask you to reply to confirm that you will definitely use the tickets. Should you have any queries, please contact Chai Chin (not me). Deadline for Booking: Please request your tickets by no later than ​10pm on Sunday 3 March. Tickets will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so I suggest you request tickets as soon as possible, but please do not request tickets unless you are sure that you, and any guests, will be able to attend. Ticket Collection: You will need to allow sufficient time to meet Chai Chin (or one of her helpers) to collect physical tickets, around 45 minutes before the performance, a few minutes' walk from the theatre. Chai Chin will inform successful applicants of the meeting arrangements. Do NOT go to the theatre without having first collected your ticket(s). Important: Please be discreet about this offer and make no mention whatsoever of these tickets (including at the venue or on social media), or future such offers could be jeopardised. Please note that you must not telephone nor visit the Box Office about your tickets, and you are expected to sit in the seats allocated to you.

Message 2426: SUNDAY 25 FEBRUARY (evening): "CELEBRATING THE SONGS OF THE ROLLING STONES" at THE LONDON PALLADIUM (booking with Chai Chin required by no later than ​10pm on ​Saturday 24 February) MONDAY 26 FEBRUARY (evening): "COMIC RELIEF" at THE LONDON PALLADIUM (booking with Chai Chin required by no later than ​10pm on ​Sunday 25 February) My friend, Chai Chin Stevens, has a limited number of tickets for "Celebrating the Songs of the Rolling Stones" at The London Palladium, Argyll Street, W1F 7TF, for the following performance: Sunday 25 February, 7.30pm. Click on https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/icons-orchestral-the-rolling-stones for more details. There will be an interval of 25 minutes starting at about 8.30pm, and the event will end around 9.45pm. She also has tickets for "Comic Relief", introduced by Lenny Henry, also at The London Palladium, for the following performance: Monday 26 February, 7.30pm. Click on https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/comic-relief for more details. There will be an interval of 25 minutes starting at about 8.20pm, and the event will end around 9.45pm. Please note that the minimum age for this show is 16 years. You can find a map showing the location of this theatre by clicking on https://tinyurl.com/2khxe44a . The nearest tube station is Oxford Circus (Bakerloo, Victoria and Central Lines, Zone 1). Booking with Chai Chin: Please e-mail Chai Chin at ccstevens@... (ccstevens "at" chaichin "dot" org "dot" uk), including the name and date of the performance you are requesting in the subject heading, and, in the text of your message, state your name and the number of tickets you would like. Booking should normally be done by e-mail, not by phone, but if you do not hear back from her within a reasonable time you can always call or text Chai Chin to check whether your request was successful (her phone number is 07956-384781). She will try to reply to requests within 24 hours (and in any case by the morning of your requested performance), and if your request is successful, she will ask you to reply to confirm that you will definitely use the tickets. Should you have any queries, please contact Chai Chin and not myself. Deadline for Booking: Please request your tickets by no later than 10pm on the evening before the performance of your choice. Ticket Collection: You will need to allow sufficient time to meet Chai Chin (or one of her helpers) to collect your tickets, usually about 45 to 60 minutes before the performance, a few minutes' walk from the theatre. Chai Chin will inform successful applicants of the meeting arrangements. Do NOT go to the theatre without having first collected your ticket(s). Important: Please be discreet about this offer and make no mention whatsoever of these tickets (including at the venue or on social media), or future such offers could be jeopardised. Please note that you must not telephone nor visit the Box Office about your tickets, and you are expected to sit in the seats allocated to you.

Message 2425: THURSDAY 21 MARCH (evening): PIANO RECITAL by MARC CORBETT-WEAVER at ST. JAMES'S, PICCADILLY (50 tickets at the special price of £5, but advance purchase required - deadline: 6pm on Tuesday 19 March) Marc Corbett-Weaver, Artistic Director of the London Firebird Orchestra (LFO - http://www.firebirdorchestra.com ), has kindly offered my members up to 50 tickets at the specially discounted price of £5 for his piano recital on Thursday 21 March at St. James's Church, Piccadilly, starting at 7.30pm. Many of you will recognise Marc from previous concerts. Click on http://www.marccorbett-weaver.com/biography to read more about him. The Programme: Bach/Busoni's Chaconne in D minor; Chopin's Fantaisie in F minor, Op. 49; and, after the interval, Haydn's Sonata in E flat major, Hob. XVI:52; and Liszt's Mephisto Waltz. Please click on http://www.marccorbett-weaver.com/concerts to see programme details on Marc's website. The Venue: St. James's Church, 197 Piccadilly, W1J 9LL. The nearest tube station is Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly and Bakerloo Lines), but it is also within easy walking distance from Green Park (Piccadilly, Jubilee and Victoria Lines). You can view a map at https://tinyurl.com/y7pk72dd . Ticket Price: The original price of tickets is £25 and £35 (excluding booking fees), and we are being offered £25 tickets (Tier 2 tickets) at the special price of £5 (including the booking fee). Booking/Payment Procedure: Click on https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/RevolutionArts/t-lnapdaz and then on "BOOK NOW". Select the number of Tier 2 tickets at £25 you wish to purchase and click on "Next". Type (or copy and paste) GORDONMCW in the space for a discount code, and select Eticket for delivery (as this delivery option is free), or, if you prefer, Mobile ticket (cost: £0.50) to have your tickets sent to your mobile phone. Then click on "use discount code". (Importantly, the code needs to be typed in UPPERCASE letters and Tier 2 needs to be selected.) You should see that your total cost has been discounted by £22.10 a ticket so that you will pay £5.00 (including the booking fee) instead of £25.00 (plus the booking fee of £2.10) for each ticket. Click on "checkout" to make your purchase by debit or credit card. Note that there is NO NEED to print your ticket(s) as your name will be on a guest list. The deadline for booking is 6pm on Tuesday 19 March, but the offer could be withdrawn earlier should my allocation of 50 tickets become fully subscribed. Please be aware that only those who have purchased their tickets in advance will be able to avail themselves of this special price as no discounted tickets will be available on the night and anyone arriving without having booked would need to pay the full price. Should you have any queries regarding your booking, please e-mail info@... (info "at" marccorbett "hyphen" weaver "dot" com) and not myself. On Arrival: Please note that you will not be allowed inside until 7pm. Go to the ticket desk where your name(s) will be ticked off (no paper tickets will be issued), and you will be informed of your seat number(s). Although you are asked to arrive in good time, please note that there is no advantage in arriving extremely early as the seats will be numbered and will have been pre-allocated by Marc's team. Seating: The concert is likely to be well attended, and it is important that you sit in your allocated seat. Tier 2 seats will be in the rear centre and side aisles. Summary of Timings: 7pm - doors and bar open; 7.30pm - concert starts; 8.10pm (approx.) - interval starts; 8.30pm (approx.) - second part of concert starts; 9.15pm (approx.) - concert ends. Refreshments: Wine and soft drinks will be available to purchase from 6.45pm and during the interval. As I am not required for ticket distribution, you will find me near the bar from about 7pm as well as during the interval. Before and During the Concert: Please ensure that your mobile phone is turned off! I will remove offenders from my list. This applies to anyone causing any kind of disturbance that could jeopardise offers of tic

Message 2424: WEDNESDAY 28 FEBRUARY (evening): PIANO RECITAL by ANNA AVRAMIDOU at the CYPRUS HIGH COMMISSION (free event, but booking through Eventbrite required) The Programme: The programme will include Scarlatti's Sonata in G major, K.427; Scarlatti's Sonata in E major, K.206; Mozart's Sonata No.14 in C minor, K.457; Chopin's Mazurka in F minor, Op.63, No.2; Chopin's Mazurka in C sharp minor, Op.63, No.3; Chopin's Ballade No.1 in G minor, Op.23; Liszt's Consolation No.3 in D flat major; and Liszt's Tarantella from "Venezia e Napoli", S.162, No.3. The Pianist: The pianist is 16-year-old Cypriot Anna Avramidou, a talented student at the prestigious Purcell School for Young Musicians. She has won numerous prizes at international piano competitions, and this is a unique opportunity to witness a rising star. For more details about this event and the pianist, click on https://www.culturalchc.co.uk/single-post/virtuosity-unveiled-anna-avraamidou-s-piano-mastery . Venue and Transport Details: Cyprus House, 13 St. James's Square, SW1Y 4LB. To view a map, go to http://tinyurl.com/2myz8t84 . The nearest tube station is Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly and Bakerloo Lines), but it is also within easy walking distance from Green Park (Piccadilly, Jubilee and Victoria Lines) and Charing Cross (Bakerloo and Northern Lines, and National Rail). For more information about the Cyprus High Commission and the kind of cultural events they organise, visit https://www.culturalchc.co.uk . Timings: The doors will open at 6.30pm (I plan to arrive shortly after this), and the concert will start at 7pm. We are asked to take our seats by 6.50pm so that the concert can start on time. The evening is expected to finish around 8.30pm. To Book: I suggest you book as soon as possible while places remain. Click on https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/virtuosity-unveiled-anna-avramidous-piano-mastery-tickets-828957613537 , select the number of seats you require, and complete your details (name and e-mail address). Please do not book for others unless you are sure that they will be able to attend. After booking, you should receive an e-mail confirmation. SUMMARY OF FUTURE EVENTS: Fri 23 Feb, 5.50pm/6pm: High Street Kensington station to go to Japan House, 101-111, Kensington High Street, W8 5SA, for an Ainu dance performance starting at 6.30pm (sorry, this is now fully booked - for details, click on https://groups.io/g/gordonbeal/message/2421 ); Tues 27 Feb: London Firebird Orchestra concert at St. George's, Hanover Square, starting at 7.30pm (50 tickets at £5 - deadline for booking/payment is 6pm on Sun 25 Feb - for details, click on https://groups.io/g/gordonbeal/message/2423 ); Wed 28 Feb: piano recital at the Cyprus High Commission (details above); Tues 26 March: The Anna Wolf Experience (performance by singer-songwriter Anna Wolf and launch of her poetry book 'Medicine') at 75 Dean Street, W1D 3SU, starting at 6pm (free event with no booking required, but Gordon's friends who RSVP to annawolfmanagement@... (annawolfmanagement "at" gmail "dot" com) by ​Tues 5 March will receive a complimentary gift at the event - for details, click on https://groups.io/g/gordonbeal/message/2422 ).

Message ​2423: TUESDAY 27 FEBRUARY (evening): LONDON FIREBIRD ORCHESTRA: "CLARINET FAIR" at ST. GEORGE'S, HANOVER SQUARE (50 tickets at the special price of £5, but advance purchase required - deadline: 6pm on Sunday 25 February) Marc Corbett-Weaver, Artistic Director of the London Firebird Orchestra (LFO), has kindly offered my members up to 50 tickets at the specially discounted price of £5 for their concert on Tuesday 27 February at St. George's, Hanover Square, starting at 7.30pm. Click on http://www.marccorbett-weaver.com/biography to read more about Marc. The Programme: Mendelssohn's Die Schöne Melusine Op.32 (The Fair Melusine), Mozart's Clarinet Concerto in A major, K.622, and, after the interval, Beethoven's Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op.36. The concert will be conducted by British-Australian conductor Michael Thrift ( https://www.michaelthrift.co.uk/about ), and Jonathan Leibovitz ( https://www.jonathanleibovitz.com/bio ) will be the soloist in the clarinet concerto. You can see more details at https://www.londonfirebird.com/2024/01/31/all-the-fun-of-the-fair . A QR code with the programme link will be displayed at the venue on the night. Venue and Transport Details: The concert will be held in the Parish Church of Saint George, St. George Street, W1S 1FX ( http://www.stgeorgeshanoversquare.org ), just south of Hanover Square. You may like to view a map at https://tinyurl.com/3yasnar8 and further information at http://www.stgeorgeshanoversquare.org/Getting-here.html . The nearest tube station is Oxford Circus (Central, Victoria and Bakerloo Lines, Zone 1), but Bond Street, Piccadilly Circus and Green Park stations are also within easy walking distance. The Orchestra: The LFO is an exciting orchestra whose Patron is Dame Judi Dench. You may like to check the website to see more details of the orchestra, its people and of forthcoming concerts: http://www.firebirdorchestra.com . Ticket Price: We have been offered tickets at the special price of £5 (including the booking fee) for tickets in the third tier. The original price of third tier tickets is £20 (plus a booking fee of £1.68 per ticket), so we are lucky to get the tickets for less than a quarter of this. Tickets for the second and first tier cost £30 and £40 respectively. Booking/Payment Procedure: Click on https://www.londonfirebird.com/events/clarinet-fair , then click on "Ticketsource" (bottom of the screen), or alternatively click directly on https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/RevolutionArts/t-xmzopkl , and then on "BOOK NOW". Then select the number of "Third tier" tickets you want to purchase and click on "Next". Type (or copy and paste) GORDON24 in the space for a discount code, and select Eticket for delivery (this delivery option is free) or Mobile ticket (cost: 50 pence) if you prefer to have your tickets sent to your mobile phone. (Importantly, the code needs to be typed in UPPERCASE letters and Tier 3 needs to be selected.) Then click on "use discount code". You should see that your total cost has been discounted by £16.68 a ticket, so that you will pay £5.00 (including the booking fee) instead of £20.00 (plus the booking fee). Click on "checkout" to make your purchase by debit or credit card. Note that there is NO NEED to print your ticket(s) as your name will be on a guest list. The deadline for booking is 6pm on Sunday 25 February, but the offer could be withdrawn earlier should my allocation of 50 tickets become fully subscribed. Please be aware that only those who have purchased their tickets in advance will be able to avail themselves of the special price for my group as no discounted tickets will be available on the night. Anyone arriving without having prepaid will need to pay the full price. Should you have any queries regarding your booking, please email Info@... and not myself. On Arrival: Please note that you will not be allowed inside the church until the doors open at 6.45pm. Enter the church by the middle doors and go to the ticket desk where your name(s) will be ticked off (no paper tickets will be issued), and you will be given your s

Message ​2422: TUESDAY 26 MARCH (evening): BOOK LAUNCH & PERFORMANCE by SINGER-SONGWRITER ANNA WOLF in SOHO (free event with no booking required, but Gordon's friends who RSVP by ​Tuesday 5 March will receive a complimentary gift at the event) About Anna Wolf: Born in South Africa, Anna Wolf has had a celebrated career amassing hit singles and sold-out shows. In 2018, she moved to London, where one night she took her guitar to the bathtub and recorded herself performing “Believer” on her cell phone by stomping her feet against the tub. She sent the demo to a producer who ended up recording the song, and you can hear some of the noise from the bathtub in the final mix. More recently, she has released the single “Silence” to acclaimed reviews, dedicating the song to her fans she calls “wolves”. As a singer and solo performer, she creates alternative, visceral music, forcefully performed to stamp her into audiences' memories. You may like to see short videos of some of her performances here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSQcOeMYDz0 ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93tKBhRt9No ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l2pvh9_-vQ . Anna holds a position on the board of creatives endorsed by Flare Audio, alongside Stephen Fry and other notable names. Her acting career has seen her starring alongside Julian Glover, Stephanie Beacham, Dianna Quick and Bernard Hill in the feature film Forever Young (2023 version - trailer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eazMMeI2h6g ) which can now be streamed in the UK. Click on https://linktr.ee/RealAnnaWolf for more information about her. Some of you will remember attending her event at West Hampstead Arts Club in March 2023. The Event: This will be a musical performance with mesmerising visuals by Anna Wolf, to coincide with the launch of her poetry book 'Medicine'. This book is a poetic exploration of loss, self-discovery, and the existential questions that resonate with every human being, and it is illustrated Danny Flynn ( https://www.dannyflynn.com ). This event promises to be a unique experience, with visuals, readings, and a musical performance unfolding inside a specially equipped cinema, offering optimal sound for both music and storytelling. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that this show is unsuitable for those aged under 18. There will be a bar and a merchandise table, both accepting payments by card only (no cash). Welcome Gift: On arrival, my members (only those who RSVP'd by the deadline) can go to the merchandise table to claim a welcome gift. This surprise gift is only offered to members of my group. To RSVP: To RSVP and get your surprise gift, please send an e-mail to annawolfmanagement@... , giving your name and the names of any guests for whom you are booking, by no later than Tuesday 5 March. Please use CAPITAL letters for your family name (for example: John SMITH) to help Anna's team arrange the guest list in alphabetical order. You should receive an acknowledgement within a day or so. Please note that after ​Tuesday 5 March, there is no need to RSVP - you can just turn up (but you will not receive a gift). Timings: We are asked to arrive when the doors and bar open at 6pm, or as soon as possible afterwards. Anna's performance will start at 7pm and last an hour. Book signing, and a chance to meet Anna, will take place between 8pm and 9pm, and the bar will remain open until 10pm. This event is a creative curation evening filled with various aspects to which a strict time frame is followed, and audience members will be able to engage in the beautiful merchandise section which will have projected visuals in the space, so it is worth arriving in good time. Transport and Venue Details: Normally, I would suggest an optional meeting point at a nearby station. However, the nearest station, Tottenham Court Road, is large and busy, so we will meet at the venue (I plan to arrive there at 6pm). Tottenham Court Road is served by the Central, Northern and Elizabeth Lines. The address of the venue is 75 Dean Street, W1D 3SU. To view a map, click on ht

Message ​2421: FRIDAY 23 FEBRUARY: AINU DANCE FROM ALONG THE SARU RIVER at JAPAN HOUSE, near HIGH STREET KENSINGTON STATION (free event, but booking through Eventbrite required) (Optional) Meeting, Transport and Venue Details: Meet Gordon on Friday 23 February, between 5.50pm and 6pm, at High Street Kensington tube station (District and Circle Lines, Zone 1). We will meet in the octagonal area of the shopping centre, just outside the station entrance. Look for me on your right as you leave the station and enter the shopping centre. We will go to Japan House London ( https://www.japanhouselondon.uk ), 101-111, Kensington High Street, W8 5SA, near the corner with Derry Street. To view a map, click on https://tinyurl.com/jkd2lza . To see numbers of local buses and other information, click on https://www.japanhouselondon.uk/visit and scroll down. The Main Event (Ainu Dance Performance): We will watch a special performance of Ainu dance by the Biratori Ainu Culture Preservation Association ( https://www.ff-ainu.or.jp/web/english/details/biratori-ainu-culture-preservation-society.html ). Ainu dance is recognised by UNESCO ( https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/traditional-ainu-dance-00278 ) for its role in preserving the continuity of cultural heritage within the community and has a range of social and ceremonial functions. Some dances are associated with certain ceremonies, others provide entertainment for the performers, and some accompany the repetitive motions of manual labour. Characteristics differ between regions with the dances from the Biratori region often referring to the birds found by the banks of the Saru River such as Hararki (crane dance) and Anna hore (bird dance). After we enjoy a programme of dances, there will be a short Q&A with one of the performers (Kaizawa Taichi). He has been actively engaged in various activities to preserve and promote Ainu culture for future generations. You can see more details at https://www.japanhouselondon.uk/whats-on/ainu-dance-from-along-the-saru-river , and a short video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXzo5SRaUoo . Optional Extra (Exhibition): Japan House London is hosting an exhibition entitled "Ainu Stories: Contemporary Lives by the Saru River", and you may like to visit it either just before or just after the performance. You can see details at https://www.japanhouselondon.uk/whats-on/ainu-stories-contemporary-lives-by-the-saru-river . Booking for this free exhibition is recommended, so you might like to book the 5.30pm to 6pm slot, the 6pm to 6.30pm slot (which is what I have done) or the 7.30pm to 8pm slot. Booking Procedure: To book, click on https://www.japanhouselondon.uk/whats-on/ainu-dance-from-along-the-saru-river , and then on "Book tickets". This will take you to Eventbrite, and you will be able to book either 1 or 2 tickets. This event is being held on Wednesday 21 and Friday 23 February, but I will only attend on Friday 23 February, so select this date if you would like to join my group at the event. Tick the box if you would like to be added to Japan House's e-mail list. Please note that you are asked to show your ticket (either on a mobile device or a printout) to access the performance. Timings: 5.50pm/6pm - optional meeting at station; 6pm - doors open; 6.30pm - performance in The Hall starts; 7.30pm - performance ends. Optional chance to visit the exhibition in The Gallery before or immediately after the performance. Note: We are asked to arrive by no later than 5 or 10 minutes before the start of the performance, as otherwise our seats could be given away to others. If you are too late to book but decide to turn up anyway, make yourself known to Japan House staff on arrival as it is possible that you may get in at the last moment if there are no-shows shortly before 6.30pm. SUMMARY OF FUTURE EVENTS: Sat 3 Feb: candlelight concert for violin and harp at St. James's, Piccadilly, starting at 7pm (tickets at the special price of £6 when purchased in advance through Eventbrite using promotional code GBlist - click on https://groups.io/g/gordonbeal/message/2419 fo

Message ​2420: SUNDAY 28 JANUARY (afternoon): GUIDED WALK: "FRENCH LANDMARKS AROUND SOUTH KENSINGTON" (special "Gordon's group" price of £7 until 2pm on Sunday 21 January, and £10 thereafter) The Tour: On this tour, we will discover French history in the Knightsbridge and South Kensington area. We will be guided by Christian Michel, founder of the French London Experience ( https://frenchlondonexperience.com/about ), and a member of my group. This tour is specifically organised for my members. Home to the French Embassy and the Lycée Charles de Gaulle, South Kensington has become famous as the contemporary ‘French area’ of London, an area teeming with French landmarks, buildings and history. This tour includes Michelin House, Institut Français, Lycée Français and the Royal Albert Hall. We will learn about Napoleon III, the Free French and the Entente Cordiale, whilst enjoying a gentle walk taking in some of the most beautiful parts of Hyde Park and South Kensington. We will start from the French Embassy, pass the Albert Memorial, and end in front of the Institut Français in South Kensington. The tour will be given in English, but is intended primarily for adults with an interest in French culture and history. It is not advisable to bring children, unless they have a French background or a particular interest in things French. The tour will last just over 2 hours, and we will walk around 2 miles or 3 ¼ km. You can see more details and a short video at https://frenchlondonexperience.com/south-kensington . Transport and Meeting Point: We will meet outside the French Embassy, 58 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7JT, between 1.45pm and 1.55pm for a prompt 2pm departure. For a map, click on http://tinyurl.com/mssckenr . The nearest tube station is Knightsbridge (Piccadilly Line, Zone 1), and you should use Exit No. 1 (for the Mandarin Oriental Hotel) to save crossing any roads. (Do not make the mistake of using the exit for Harrods.) Afterwards: Some of us may like to join Christian and me for a drink and/or snack at Gazette Brasserie ( https://www.gazettebrasserie.co.uk ), 17 Queensbury Place, SW7 2DT. You can see the menus at https://www.gazettebrasserie.co.uk/menus . This is a very French place, in the very French Institute, the heart of France in London. The nearest station for your journey home is South Kensington (Piccadilly, District and Circle Lines). You can view a map at http://tinyurl.com/4znuerb3 . Summary of Timings: Meeting - 1.45pm/1.55pm; Departure - 2pm; End of Tour - around 4pm/4.15pm outside the French Institute in South Kensington. The Cost: Christian normally charges £16 a person, but for this private tour he has kindly offered my members places at £7 until a week before the tour (2pm on Sunday 21 January). After that, the price will increase to £10, and this price will stay in force while tickets remain. These prices do not include Eventbrite's fee, so you will pay £8.30 (Earlybird price) or £11.55 (during the last week). Booking/Payment Procedure: This will be by Eventbrite, and places need to be booked and paid for in advance. Click on https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/gordons-group-walking-tour-french-landmarks-around-south-kensington-tickets-797758626527 , and then on "Get tickets". Then select either "Gordon's Group - Earlybird" (£7) or "Gordon's Group - Last week" (£10), depending on when you are booking, and select the number of tickets you want before going to "Check out". Immediately after booking, you should receive an e-mail confirmation. There is no need to print your ticket, nor show it on a mobile device, as Christian will have your name on the guest list. Note: Places for the last walk in the series ("In the Steps of the French in Soho", Sunday 26 November) got booked up very quickly (the limit is 25) and many of you were disappointed, but we hope to repeat this walk in a few weeks' time (details in due course). SUMMARY OF FUTURE EVENTS: Sun 28 Jan: guided walk (details above); Sat 3 Feb: concert for violin and harp at St. James's, Piccadilly, starting at 7pm (tickets at the special price of £6 when purcha

Message 2419: SATURDAY 3 FEBRUARY (evening): MASTERPIECES BY CANDLELIGHT with VIOLINIST ALDA DIZDARI and HARPIST CAMILLA PAY at ST. JAMES'S, PICCADILLY (tickets at the special price of £6 when purchased in advance through Eventbrite using promotional code GBlist) Alda Dizdari has kindly offered my group of friends up to 100 tickets at the special price of £6 for her forthcoming candlelit concert, taking place on Saturday 3 February at St. James's Church, Piccadilly, starting at 7pm. The Programme: We will hear music from Alda Dizdari's intimate album, "The Words of the Candle", including masterpieces for solo violin such as Bach's Chaconne and movements from Bach's violin sonatas and of Ysaye's, as well as short encore pieces by Debussy, Chopin, Sarasate and Massenet with the harp. The concert pays tribute to the passing of a great monarch, a nation trying to heal after a traumatic pandemic, and reflects on feelings of love, peace and the spirit of revival. Alda will create a unique and intimate atmosphere, and bring life to the music, composers and personal story behind her chosen repertoire. You can read more details at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/masterpieces-by-candlelight-tickets-791331001327 . The Musicians: These works will be performed by the Romanian-trained UK-based Albanian violinist Alda Dizdari ( https://aldadizdari.co.uk ), the organiser of the concert, and British harpist Camilla Pay ( https://camillapay.com ). The Venue: The address is St. James's Church, 197 Piccadilly, W1J 9LL. The nearest tube station is Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly and Bakerloo Lines), but it is also within easy walking distance from Green Park (Piccadilly, Jubilee and Victoria Lines). You can view a map at https://tinyurl.com/y7pk72dd . Summary of Timings: The church will open at 6.30pm, and the performance will start at 7pm. There will be an interval of 20 minutes starting at about ​8pm, and the concert will end at about ​9pm. Cost of Tickets: The usual cost of tickets is £12, £20 and £35 (inclusive of booking fees). My group has been offered £12 tickets at the special price of £6, in advance only (not on the door). Booking Procedure and Payment: Click on https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/masterpieces-by-candlelight-tickets-791331001327 , and then on "Get tickets". Use GBlist for the Promo Code. After clicking on "Apply", you should see that tickets for seats in the left and right side pews have been reduced by 50% from £12 to £6. (The code is only valid for the £12 tickets.) After clicking on "Check out", you will see that payment can be made by credit/debit card or by PayPal or Google Pay. Immediately after paying, you should receive a confirmation e-mail. Although there will be a guest list, it would be helpful if you could print and bring your ticket, or show it on a mobile device. Seating: Please note that the seats allocated to us are in the side pews (both left and right), so please stay in these areas. It is "free seating" within each area. The centre nave is reserved for those paying higher prices. Children: Please do not bring children unless they can sit still and quietly, and in any case please note that the minimum age for children is 10 years. More Details about Alda: If you would like to subscribe to her YouTube channel, please click on https://www.youtube.com/@AldaDizdari .

Message 2418: MONDAY 1 JANUARY (afternoon): NEW YEAR'S DAY CEILIDH at the ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL, SOUTHBANK CENTRE (free event with no booking required) The Royal Festival Hall is hosting a ceilidh on New Year's Day, starting at 1pm and lasting about 3 hours. Details: London's most radical and vivacious ceilidh band, the Ceilidh Liberation Front, will help us to kick the new year off with dancing. You may like to check out the YouTube clip on their website: https://thenestcollective.co.uk/artists/ceilidh-liberation-front . This is a family-friendly event, and no previous experience of ceilidh is necessary. There will be a relaxed approach to noise and movement and you are welcome to arrive and leave during the performance. No ticket is required, and there is no need (and no way) to book, but the ballroom can accommodate up to 800 people, so, although it could get busy, there should not be a problem in getting in. Do not forget your dancing shoes. You can see more details at https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/family-young-people/new-years-day-ceilidh . What is Ceilidh? This is a Scottish or Irish social gathering, originally not necessarily involving dancing, but nowadays it usually involves playing Gaelic folk music and dancing. Venue, Transportation and Meeting Details: For a map to find the venue, go to http://tinyurl.com/kjkvx8 , and for more information about getting to the venue, go to https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/visit/getting-here . The address is Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX, and the event will take place in the Clore Ballroom on Level 2. The nearest station is Waterloo (Northern, Bakerloo and Jubilee Lines and National Rail), but if you are using the District or Circle Lines, you can use Embankment station and walk over one of the Golden Jubilee Footbridges. Since there are so many ways to get to the venue, I will not "meet and greet" people at a station, but rather at the event, where I expect to arrive around 1pm. All the best for the festive season and the coming year, Gordon

Message ​2417: SUNDAY 17 DECEMBER (afternoon): "SIR RANULPH FIENNES: MAD, BAD AND DANGEROUS" at GILLIAN LYNNE THEATRE (booking with Chai Chin required by ​6pm on ​Saturday 16 December) TUESDAY 19 DECEMBER (evening): "CRAZY FOR YOU" at GILLIAN LYNNE THEATRE (booking with Chai Chin required by no later than 6pm on Monday 18 December) My friend, Chai Chin Stevens, has a limited number of tickets for "Sir Ranulph Fiennes: Mad, Bad and Dangerous" on Sunday 17 December at 2.30pm. Click on https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/sir-ranulph-fiennes or https://sirranulphfiennes.co.uk for details of this show. The running time is about 2 hours, including an interval or 20 minutes, and the show is recommended for ages 14+. She also has tickets for "Crazy For You" on Tuesday 19 December at 7.30pm. Click on https://crazyforyoumusical.com/about-the-show for details of this musical. The running time is 2 hours 40 minutes, including an interval of 20 minutes. Please note that children under 4 will not be admitted. Theatre Location: Gillian Lynne Theatre is at 166 Drury Lane, WC2B 5PW. You can find a map showing its location by clicking on https://seatplan.com/london/gillian-lynne-theatre/map or https://crazyforyoumusical.com/your-visit . The nearest tube stations are Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line) and Holborn (Piccadilly and Central Lines). Booking with Chai Chin: Please e-mail Chai Chin at ccstevens@... , including the name and date of the performance you are requesting in the subject heading, and, in the text of your message, state your name and the number of tickets you would like. Booking should normally be done by e-mail, not by phone, but if you do not hear back from her within a reasonable time you can always call or text Chai Chin to check whether your request was successful (her phone number is 07956-384781). She will try to reply to requests within 24 hours (and in any case by the evening before the performance), and if your request is successful, she will ask you to reply to confirm that you will definitely use the tickets. Should you have any queries, please contact Chai Chin (not me). Deadline for Booking: Please request your tickets by no later than ​6pm on the evening before the performance. Tickets will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so I suggest you request tickets as soon as possible, but please do not request tickets unless you are sure that you, and any guests, will be able to attend. Ticket Collection: You will need to allow sufficient time to meet Chai Chin (or one of her helpers) to collect physical tickets, around 45 minutes before the performance, a few minutes' walk from the theatre. Chai Chin will inform successful applicants of the meeting arrangements. Do NOT go to the theatre without having first collected your ticket(s). Important: Please be discreet about this offer and make no mention whatsoever of these tickets (including at the venue or on social media), or future such offers could be jeopardised. Please note that you must not telephone nor visit the Box Office about your tickets, and you are expected to sit in the seats allocated to you.