My final concert in the Bath Festival was Joanna MacGregor playing Messiaen’s Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant Jésus. It’s a long time since I’ve been at a concert where most of the audience were on their feet at the end. But it was easy to tell why; I don’t think I heard any fluffed notes and the complex rhythms (many Eastern in inspiration) all seemed to me (as far as I could tell) to be precisely articulated. To say nothing of her control of dynamics and phrasing. There was no interval, only a short pause in the middle. I doubt whether Christ Church Julian Road had ever witnessed anything like this before!
Afterwards we all dispersed to tell our friends and families what they’d missed. (It’s possible to find out, as the concert is being broadcast on Radio 3). As I walked back home with Messiaen’s music ringing in my ears, I got a text message, the way one does, inviting me to sing some of his music in Turin later this month. Watch this space!