Paradisum ex Chelsea

Cadogan Hall in swanky Sloane Square, Chelsea is a fascinating oddity. Originally built in 1907 as a Christian Scientist church, it was designed in the radical "Byzantine Revival" fashion by architect Robert Fellowes Chisholm - and its singular style was obviously an influence on later Art Deco building designs.

Christian Science [fiction, double feature?] having declined dramatically in the later 20th century the church's congregation dwindled, and it closed in 1996. Enter, stage left, mega-rich, mega-loony Mohammed Al-Fayed (then-owner of Harrods and father of Princess Diana's last lover Dodi) who bought it and wanted to turn it into a luxury private mansion(!). Thankfully the council turned the plans down - this is a Grade II listed building, after all - with the unfortunate result that the building ended up in serious danger of dilapidation.

Thank heavens for the British nobility! The Earls of Cadogan have owned most of the prime lands in the area - basically everything from just above the Royal Hospital Chelsea (home of the famous Flower Show) to the King's Road, to just south of Harvey Nicks, sweetie - since 1753, and it was their estates management company that bought the building in 2000 and transformed it into the magnificent concert venue it is today.

And so it was, for the first time since the very last weekend before London went into lockdown because of COVID way back in 2020, that Madam Arcati and I ventured through its illustrious portals on Saturday evening, for a performance by Wimbledon Choral of the lovely Requiem by Gabriel Fauré.

And here, for your delectation, dear reader, is a beautiful version of it...

Orchestre de Paris, cond. Paavo Järvi, soprano Chen Reiss, baritone Matthias Goern - Requiem [Fauré]

It's about time this den of depravity got some class! [With a capital "K", of course.]