Author Archives: vhk10

the late quartets that weren’t

Posted on November 30, 2025 by vhk10

I hadn’t been to a concert at the Wiltshire Music Centre in over 10 years. Only a small part of this was accounted for by the pandemic hiatus; mostly it was because I fell off the mailing list for their … Continue reading →

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a Messiah about which there isn’t much to say

Posted on November 30, 2025 by vhk10

November 2025 was, I realise, a ridiculously busy month musically speaking. My final performance of the month was Messiah in Gloucester Cathedral. I’m beginning to run out of things to say about Messiah, which under natural conditions I’d aim to … Continue reading →

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revisiting Rossini

Posted on November 22, 2025 by vhk10

A decade ago I sang Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle with Bristol Choral Society in Bristol Cathedral. The wheel has turned full circle and I went back there to hear them sing the same piece. I was a guest of the … Continue reading →

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Split-level Makropoulos

Posted on November 20, 2025 by vhk10

I have long felt that The Makropulos Case has been unfairly neglected, but am still surprised the Royal Opera hadn’t ever put it on before. Even though I’d been to a performance in Cardiff not that long ago, I made … Continue reading →

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Diabelli at the Mozartfest

Posted on November 18, 2025 by vhk10

I was surprised that Cédric Tiberghien’s recital at the Mozartfest didn’t completely sell out, though there weren’t many nave seats left in St Mary’s church. Perhaps not so many people this year signed up for the weekend package offered by … Continue reading →

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my Prior Park début

Posted on November 16, 2025 by vhk10

I have only once previously been in Prior Park Chapel. I seized the chance to take part in a workshop afternoon there, led by Matthew Finch. I hadn’t been to such an event organised by him before, and didn’t know … Continue reading →

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a memorial Requiem at Merton

Posted on November 12, 2025 by vhk10

I had not returned to hear a service in Merton College Chapel, or indeed set foot in the College, since 2016. I came back for a memorial requiem Eucharist for a former Chaplain. I was at Merton mid-way through his … Continue reading →

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All Souls Day at Bath Abbey

Posted on November 11, 2025 by vhk10

The Abbey Chamber Choir sang evensong for a transferred observance of All Souls’ Day. I’m not sure whether this was a first for Bath Abbey, but we were able to submit names of the departed in advance and they were … Continue reading →

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why you have to collate editions

Posted on October 30, 2025 by vhk10

I hadn’t sung in St Albans Cathedral in quite a few years, although at one time I did so several years in a row with different choirs. I visited the city three years ago but to rehearse in another church. … Continue reading →

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a Capitular Mass

Posted on October 25, 2025 by vhk10

Visiting Sardinia in mid-October, I went to Mass in the Duomo in Cagliari. We’d visited the building earlier and explored the network of subterranean chapels. I attended the ‘Capitular Mass’ which I think means the Bishop is supposed to be … Continue reading →

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