Last night’s concert with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra was a wonderful experience for us. The orchestra played with such luxurious power and conviction, conducted by Dominic Wheeler, and the Manchester Chamber Choir brought ethereal beauty to, for instance, “Miracles” and “He dreamed of machines” (from our new piece about Alan Turing). To hear Johnny Marr playing the guitar riff from “This must be the place I waited years to leave” was a real thrill so many years after he played on the original record; his acoustic guitar playing on “Breathing space” was gorgeous. Other highlights for me were performing live for the first time “It couldn’t happen here”, “The survivors” and “For all of us”. Sven Helbig’s orchestral arrangements were both magnificent and subtle: “New York City boy” was returned to Broadway; “He dreamed of machines” had a pale beauty. Many thanks to everyone at the BBC, Parlophone and our management and tour personnel for making it happen, to Pete Gleadall for programming and to Jo Whiley for introducing it. The concert can be heard on BBC Radio 2 tonight at 8 pm. I hope you enjoy it. Neil x (Photograph by Kate Southall/BBC.)
Pet Shop Boys today release “SMASH — The Singles 1985–2020” – the complete collection of their singles in chronological order.
Recent Pet Texts
More Dreamworld tour merchandise, including a windbreaker, a tee shirt and a water bottle, is now available in the official Pet Shop Boys store. Link to order below.
We are today launching a series of classic live performances of some of Pet Shop Boys’ most famous songs. Originally filmed during the 1991 “Performance” tour, “West End girls (Live in Birmingham)” is now available to watch on YouTube at the link below.
I loved visiting Charleston House in East Sussex today, both a refuge and a workplace of the Bloomsbury Group. Information at the link below. Neil x
Tickets for Pet Shop Boys’ Dreamworld shows in Santiago de Chile and Lima are now on sale at the links below.
I just enjoyed seeing Paul McCartney’s photographs of the view from within Beatlemania, recently rediscovered and now splendidly exhibited at the newly-reopened National Portrait Gallery in London. (Link below.) Neil
It looks like a giant bear is floating in the sky! Neil
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was today sentenced to a 19-year prison sentence in a trial reminiscent of the Soviet era. Navalny has already suffered poisoning and is still serving a nine-year prison sentence for his opposition activities which include producing a film about Putin’s corruption. Link to the film below.
There’s nothing like an English summer! Neil x