London, September 2007

Indonesian review of Ki Purbo's all-night performance in London, 9-07
English translation of London review

In September 2007, Ki Purbo Asmoro was invited by the Southbank Gamelan Players and Prof Rahayu Supanggah, to perform for the reopening of the Royal Festival Hall after its recent renovation. Ki Purbo spent about a week rehearsing with the Southbank Players, who put on an all-night, classical performance of Babad Wanamarta and a padhat performance of Ciptoning. This event actually marked in some ways the most rigorous performance day Ki Purbo has had in his history of performing. There was a three-hour matinee, followed that same evening by a performance longer than any in Java--it started late at about 11 pm, but went through until 7:30 am (8.5 hours!). There was a large audience remaining at 7:30 am--perhaps as many as 200 people.

Throughout the week in London, Ki Purbo had a chance to see a performance of The Lion King, and to visit a school in which gamelan was being taught. He was extremely independent for the week--cooking for himself in his apartment suite, and exploring London by walking from his apartment near the Royal Festival Hall over the various bridges that span the Thames.

photos of performance taken by Laurence Fayet
photos of Purbo Asmoro around London by Kitsie Emerson