VE Day

Lots of celebrations today, marking the 75th Anniversary of VE Day.  I hope everyone will remember that this was not just a British victory: without the sacrifices of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and, above all, the Soviet Union, as well as many nations who were occupied by the Nazis but resisted staunchly, their defeat would not have been possible.

A sobering thought: during World War 2, within about six years, about 67,500 UK civilians were killed by the effects of combat - mostly through the bombing of towns and cities.  So far, over 30,000 citizens of the UK have died from Covid-19 in just two months.

Today's first listen was the 1976 album by Rush called "2112" on which my favourite track was the Overture/Temples of Syrinx. You should probably know what to expect from the title.

Edouard Manet's Music in the Tuileries Gardens (1862) caused great consternation when it was first exhibited.  For 20 years no-one wanted to buy it but it now hangs in the National Gallery in London and is arguably the first work of what is loosely called "Modern Art." Many viewers at the time had difficulty with its style but today we see it is an easily recognisable, vibrant depiction fo a lively scene.