You wouldn't have thought that Greek tragedy was much of a laugh unless you had seen Spymonkey's Oedipussy at the Traverse this week.  It's a fast and furious slapstick version with the cast of four constantly involved in inventive antics and lightning costume changes.  I particularly admired the change from Corinthian shepherd to Theban shepherd performed as the actor ran from one side of the stage to the other. The show is full of gags and even a modicum of audience participation.  I enjoyed singing along to "leprosy isn't fun at all" as disaster struck Thebes.

But despite the knockabout, as Joyce Macmillan points out in her review, the tragedy is not lost to sight nor is the show devoid of emotion.

Emotion in spades was on view as Sol Gabetta bestrode her cello and gave an intensely powerful performance of Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No. 1 with the RSNO last night.  I'm a big fan of Shostakovitch and have listened to this piece frequently on record but was absolutely mesmerised hearing it live.  If I were not already committed to the delights of modern dance this evening I'd be on my way to Glasgow to hear her play it again. 

The rest of the programme consisted of another nod to Britten with his jolly Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra and Dvorak's 7th Symphony which the sleeve notes on my recording dub "sombre and austere".  That may be but who wants to be jolly all the time.