Trafalgar Square was a magical scene at 6pm on Saturday, as the vast crowd looked up to see artificial light snow falling from the sky... whilst the stage was bedecked with singers...and seachlights beamed up and down Nelson's Column.This was the first such Russian Winter Festival...an event held in the centre of London..on Ken's recently pedestrianised play area in front of the National Gallery,Canada House,South Africa House..and Big Ben beaming in the background. There were performing stars and ensemble groups galore. The costumes and sounds were intoxicating. The many thousands in the vast crowd there were keen to see and hear the performances from whatever vantage point they could find. Tunes familiar to the Russian throng raised cheers, started light tapping with the feet, tinged with Homeland pride and then much applause.You could hear the Russian language everywhere as the throng mingled and meandered up and down the staircases and along the 10 deep crowd lining the raised areas.. trying to get a better view.Announcements in Russian of an oncoming act brought cheers of delight indicating that some 70% in the crowd were Russian. Calls for men to cheer first..then women..quickly confirmed that women outnumbered men by 60-40. ..and many delightful fresh cultured faces were there too..smiling, none threatening, dressed nicely, not abusive, non pushing or shoving, justas some of us like it! I spotted a several princesses.It was as though the the sounds of this type of music and costume had attracted like minded people... Jerry Springer's linguistic fans seemed far away thank goodness and didn't attend ..thus not spoiling the event!!The Festival entitled "Red Square SW1" was opened by Ken Livingstone around noon, and he was to be accompanied by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow, Ludmila Shvetsova. If you were to standing on the steps of the National Gallery,you would have seen the large stage ..erected infront of Nelson's Column..and trading and information tents lined left and right on the edges of the Square. The place was packed.I'm sure there were more pepole there than ever was imagined.The food tent looked overwhelmed, a Russian second book stall was almost sold out, by 6pm the candle stall had sold out, the Intourist travel tent gave out literature,queues of childeren having their faces painted by Russian artists, the ubiquitous T Shirt stall...whilst the crowds tapped their feet and swayed to the next swinging music number.My thoughts were what a cultured and easy assimulated crowd they were...compared with some other scenes created in London by incomers. So between noon and 6pm..there were choirs,and folk singers..which I mainly missed as I did arrive back till 5pm..and from 6pm the rock and pop groups performed...and played till *pm.The gathering were then to move on to Somerset House and its skating rink. Olympic Ice skating stars were to perform to traditional Russian music ensembles..with the floodlights and torchlights in the Courtyard creating another magic scene.Maybe Gerry Tan managed to attend to add to this Report as I missed a lot.. being pushed for time..but I'll give Ken credit for initiating this new public Festival facility in Trafalgar Square. Hopefully it won't be abused by old Poll-Tax protesters..and their like (well stink bombs are the new order are they not on these Forums!!) and I look forward to next years event..and will endeavour to be there all day.Ther is another event at the Hammersmith Apollo?? 2pm Sunday today
Jim Lawes ● 7406d