LAST NIGHT WE attended a concert performance of “Serse” by Friedrich Handel (first performed in 1738) at the Barbican Hall.

The music was beautifully performed, the singing was great, and the acoustics excellent. The surtitles were quirky and colloquial, rather than faithful translations of the Italian.

Despite all the positive aspects of the performance, I felt something was lacking. That was not only the scarcity of acting but also something else. I think that attending the performance live at the Barbican Hall was only slightly better than hearing a recording of this piece played on a good hifi system.

Finally, I must mention that the number of toilets at the Barbican is totally inadequate to cope with the vast audience that attends shows in the hall.

20 June 2026