Time for the annual review of the year and some resolutions for 2008. 2007 taught me that you simply cannot guess at New Year what the next twelve months might bring. I couldn’t have imagined that in June I’d be on the stage of the Teatro Regio in Turin singing Messiaen. This came via the performance of the St Matthew Passion in Bath Abbey in Holy Week and led to more interesting singing later in the year.
On the cathedral front, I managed to fit in quite a few engagements, including a first visit to Birmingham Cathedral, some high-standard services in Norwich in the summer and a trip to Wells in the autumn. I had some vocal problems as the year went on, but these seem now to have been sorted out.
How did my other resolutions shape up? Some things came round from the wishlist – music by Philip Moore and the above-mentioned St. Matthew Passion – and a few other new pieces such as Rossini’s Stabat Mater on Good Friday. I have taken part in more high-quality performances this year than I have done since… erm, not sure when.
I have maintained or regained contact with quite a number of singers, conductors and other musicians via Facebook. I estimate that at least half of my Facebook friends are known to me through a musical connexion. It’s led to several invitations to sing, although I haven’t taken any of them up. I’ve also started a Facebook group for those on the Lord Mayor’s chapel choir dep list. I wonder how many people are on it and whether any have been waiting as long for a chance to sing as I have?
Resolutions for 2008? Obviously there are the three outstanding cathedrals to be sung in: Wakefield, Bradford and Leicester. And more pieces from the wishlist. I have some other ideas but don’t want to publicise them. Let’s just say I hope 2008 will match up to the best of 2007.