Physical Culture

A 22 kilometers run in the morning in beautiful weather, a concert in the afternoon at the Hyogo Performing Arts Centre. Our school nurse plus several parents and pupils were also in attendance, which made the event a bit more special.

The programme comprised Mahler's Totenfeier, (Funeral Rites), Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1 and Sibelius' Symphony No. 2. I must say the Mahler was by far my favourite piece, full of Gothic drama and romance. List's piece was alright, although the way it was written made it seem as if the pianist sometimes forgot what comes next; that was due, I think, to the piano seeming to constantly shift between baroque and minimalist styles.I found the Sibelius piece meandered and plodded somewhat, until the rousing finale which bought to mind images of the U.S.S. Enterprise coming into space dock.