Greetings from London!

July 6, 2012 at 11:07 PM

Greetings everyone, from London! I flew here from Los Angeles with my husband and daughter, so we could visit this wonderful city that, until now, I'd never seen! It's high time, clearly, and I will share a few pictures and experiences as we make our way through London and next week, Paris. Here are a few things I saw today and yesterday (through a fog of jet lag!):

This evening we happened upon this violinist and cellist, who were busking at Covent Garden, playing the Handel-Halvorsen Passacaglia. Pretty spiffy piece to be playing from memory, in the street, I think they must be conservatory students:

Earlier in the day, a soprano sang "Ave Maria" for the lunch crowd in the Covent Garden Market:

Here is the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, after which the Academy of St Martin in the Fields was named. Speaking of which, what famous violinist just took leadership of that orchestra? I'll make this interesting: post the correct answer, I'll enter you to win a V.com tote bag!

Here I am, with my daughter, Natalie on the left and my good friend, pianist Gina Kruger of London, on the right. We are standing in front of Shakespeare's Globe, the modern reconstruction of the Globe Theatre on the River Thames.

And how can I not provide you a picture of the Big Ben clock tower? Not bad for a cell phone shot, from the window of the cab, eh?

From Victor Andzulis
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 11:17 PM

Would the violinist be Joshua Bell?

From Joyce Lin
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 11:30 PM

Joshua Bell!

Laurie, lovely pictures! Thanks for sharing!

From Roland Bailey
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 1:13 AM

Joshua Bell, of course!

From Stephen McGrath
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 1:59 AM

Joshua Bell is the current Music Director of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields.

BTW, where can one purchase one of those tote bags?

From Marsha Weaver
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 2:31 AM

New leader of the Academy of St. Martin in the Field = Joshua Bell. :)

From marjory lange
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 6:05 AM

Joshua Bell...and it seems (a bit surprisingly, for those who know the SMF orchestra) a very happy collaboration so far.

From Christian Linke
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 7:58 AM

This is great. Don't forget to go to the Horse Stables Market in Camden Town in London. It's pretty much like Harry Potter's Diagon Alley. :) A lovely alley with all kinds of small, crazy shops.

From Randy Walton
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 12:29 PM

Yep! Josh Bell is the new director. Awesome pictures, Laurie, and you have a very pretty daughter. Keep us posted! (I know you will) :):)

From Laurie Niles
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 2:27 PM

They will go for sale in August!

From Erin Reidhead
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 6:38 PM

Joshua Bell is the new leader of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields.

Wonderful pictures!

From Laurie Niles
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 7:37 PM

Marjory Lange, you win! Please send me your address so I can send it to you, you can use 'email te editor' below. Thanks to all who entered here and on our Facebook page!

From Skye Taylor
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 10:10 PM

Lucky you! And its JB if I recall correctly.

From Dominic Zappia
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 10:16 PM

Beautiful! England's on my list of places to visit as well.

The violinist is Josh Bell

From Malcolm Turner
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 11:18 PM

Trivia - the tower is to be renamed the Elizabeth Tower in honour of our Queen in her Jubilee. Big Ben is actually the bell (and congratulations Laurie for calling it correctly as the Big Ben clock tower - most people think the whole thing is Big Ben)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18592966

From David Beck
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 7:44 AM

S-i-i-i-i-inging in the r-a-a-in ......?
Hope you all have umbrellas.

From Matthew Grogan
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 12:33 PM

Welcome to the UK, hope the weather hasn't put you off!
funkyviolins

From Bram Heemskerk
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 12:57 PM

Do not forget Wimbledon.

From Tom Holzman
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 3:43 PM

Great pics, especially of the gorgeous ladies. I hope you had a meal in the Crypt of St. Martin in the Fields and saw a concert there. We had a wonderful evening doing those things.

From April Holm
Posted on July 9, 2012 at 4:37 PM

Joshua Bell is the one who just took that position.

From Laurie Niles
Posted on July 10, 2012 at 11:26 PM

We definitely have umbrellas, and we've been using them! Having a lovely time. Went to Evensong at Westminster Abbey this evening, what a beautiful way to see that amazing work of architecture, to hear music all in the context of a service. And, at the end of the service, sun came out and shone through those gorgeous windows, so we could see the statues lit by shafts of sunlight. What a day!

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Greetings from London!

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