Paul Sérusier ‘The Talisman’ (1888)

In 1888 Paul Sérusier was painting together with Paul Gauguin in Pont Aven, Brittany, north-west France. Gauguin advised Sérusier: “How do you see these trees? They are yellow. So, put in yellow; this shadow, rather blue, paint it with pure ultramarine; these red leaves? Put in vermilion.”

When Serusier returned to Paris he showed his painting to his fellow artists (the future ‘Nabis’) and it was to be their influence in developing a style which would be revolutionary in its relationship between colour and form. The painting became their ‘Talisman’.

Paul Gauguin ‘Fête Gloanec’ (1888)

Maurice Denis ‘Landscape with Green Trees’ (1893)

George Lacombe ‘Marine Blue, the effects of waves’ (c.1893)

Franz Marc and August Macke were two major figures of German Expressionism, in particular the ‘Blaue Reiter’ movement. They became friends when they met in Paris in 1910, sharing an interest in nature in their art. However, their work took a more radical turn after they met Vassily Kandinsky the following year and they formed ‘Der Blaue Reiter’ together with Alexej von Jawlensky, Gabriele Munter and others. The group was disrupted by the outbreak of World War I, during which both Marc and Macke were killed in combat.

The exhibition ‘Franz Marc and August Macke. The Adventure of the Blue Rider’ at the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris explores Marc and Macke’s artistic relationship and how their art was developed and received during their lifetimes.

August Macke ‘Forest Stream’ (1910)

Franz Marc ‘The Dream’ (1912)

August Macke ‘Couple in the Forest’ (1912)

Franz Marc ‘The First Animals’ (1913)

Franz Marc ‘The Wolves (Balkan War)’ (1913)

August Macke ‘Landscape with Cows, Sail Boat and Figures’ (1914)

A gloriously sunny February day – perfect for exploring ‘les plus beaux villages de France’ in the Dordogne Valley.

Beynac-et-Cazenac

Castelnaud-la-Chapelle

At the Halle aux Grains, Toulouse for an extremely enjoyable concert by the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse. In the first half was Mozart’s Piano Concerto no. 21, with the excellent Adam Laloum, who performed with a wonderful touch and was deservedly called back for two encores.  In the second half was Mahler Symphony no. 1, always one of the most enjoyable symphonies to hear, extremely well played under the very enthusiastic Singaporean conductor Kahchun Wong.

Mozart: Piano Concerto no. 21; Mahler: Symphony no. 1.

At the Auditorium de l’Opera in Bordeaux, France, for an excellent Bartók concert by the Orchestre National Bordeaux under Michail Jurowski.

Beethoven: Coriolan overture; Bartók: Miraculous Mandarin Suite; Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra

San Sebastián is a beautiful coastal city in northern Spain. Known as the ‘gastronomic capital’ of the country, it is home to several world-renowned restaurants.

San Sebastián cathedral

Playa de la Concha

At the Guggengheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain for an exhibition of selections from the Thannhauser Collection from the Guggenheim, New York. The collection was donated by the German-born art dealer Justin Thannhauser and his wife Hilde and is particularly rich in Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art.

Edouard Manet ‘Before the Mirror’ (1876)

Vincent van Gogh ‘Mountains at Saint-Remy’ (1889)

Paul Gauguin ‘ Haere Mai’ (1891)

Paul Cezanne ‘Bibemus’ (1894 – 95)

Pablo Picasso ‘Le Moulin de la Galette’ (1900)

Georges Braque ‘Guitar, Glass and Fruit Dish on Sideboard’ (1919)

Pablo Picasso ‘Woman with Yellow Hair’ (1931)

Also an opportunity to see a retrospective of the works of the Swiss-born sculptor Alberto Giacometti, including his famous ‘Walking Man’

Alberto Giacometti ‘Walking Man I’ (1960)

St. Just and St. Pasteur Cathedral, Narbonne, begun in 1272

At Musée Fabre in Montpellier, south of France, for the fascinating ‘Picasso, Donner à voir’ exhibition. It looks at the whole of Picasso’s career by examining fourteen milestone moments in which a new style emerged or he began a fresh direction in his artistic practise.

It begins with Picasso as a teenager painting in Spain, moves on to his arrival in Paris and continues through the blue period, ‘Demoiselles d’Avignon’, Cubism, the return to classicism after World War I, Surrealism, the ‘Guernica’ period and his late career.

Pablo Picasso ‘Self-Portrait’ (1896)

Pablo Picasso ‘Woman Ironing’ (1901)

Pablo Picasso ‘Three Figures under a Tree’ (1907 – 08)

Pablo Picasso ‘Still-Life with Chair Caning’ (1912)

Pablo Picasso ‘Pan’s Flute’ (1923)

Pablo Picasso ‘Harlequin Musician’ (1924)

Pablo Picasso ‘Portrait of Marie-Thérèse’ (1937)

Pablo Picasso ‘Women of Algiers, after Delacroix’ (version H, 1955)

In Montcabrier in the Lot , south-west France, for the ‘8 de Montcabrier’ festival. An extremely enjoyable concert with wind quintet and the excellent pianist Morgane Fauchois-Prado.

Bach: ‘Suite francais no.2’; Ravel: ‘Tombeau de Couperin; Poulenc: ‘Sextet for piano and wind quintet’.