Author Archives: vhk10

3 Choirs (3): Elijah

Posted on July 29, 2016 by vhk10

It’s a long time since the only previous occasion I sang Elijah. As I’ve already remarked, I remembered more of it than I expected to, but there’s still an awful lot of it. (I do wonder whether it might be … Continue reading →

Posted in singing in concerts | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

3 Choirs (2): The Kingdom

Posted on July 27, 2016 by vhk10

First up was The Kingdom, a work new to me, though in recent years it seems to have gained in popularity. I think I will always in general prefer earlier Elgar to later works, and so this piece hasn’t overtaken … Continue reading →

Posted in singing in concerts | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

3 Choirs (1): the opening service

Posted on July 24, 2016 by vhk10

The opening day of the Festival finally arrived, the first event being the opening service. This was one of those occasions where the processions of dignitaries (which included some truly spectacular civic headgear) are an important part of the ceremony. … Continue reading →

Posted in singing at services | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

what has this blog achieved & a shocking admission about Bath

Posted on July 20, 2016 by vhk10

It’s now a significant anniversary of when I moved to Bath, and I’m looking back on how this blog (which I’ve kept for most of that time) has fitted in. Has it achieved what I hoped for, apart from the … Continue reading →

Posted in category-defying | 1 Comment

Prom 2: Bryn sings Boris

Posted on July 19, 2016 by vhk10

After a busy day of 3 Choirs rehearsal at Gloucester Cathedral I leapt on a train to London and we went to hear Boris Godunov, with pretty much the same cast as was in the cinema relay of the ROH … Continue reading →

Posted in going to concerts, going to operas | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

the Festival Choir on the road

Posted on July 14, 2016 by vhk10

Most of the Three Choirs Festival rehearsals are on home territory in Gloucester, but there are a couple of away fixtures at the other two cities.  First up was Worcester, which I had to drive all the way to as … Continue reading →

Posted in festivals | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

the themes of the Festival

Posted on July 8, 2016 by vhk10

I’ve been a bit quiet recently. Most of my singing activity has been rehearsing for the 3 Choirs Festival, and what goes on in the rehearsal room stays in the rehearsal room, or at any rate doesn’t appear here. I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in repertoire | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gloucester’s best kept secret

Posted on June 19, 2016 by vhk10

Junction 11a of the M5 is one of the more mysterious bits of the British motorway network. Leaving the motorway there to drive into Gloucester is straightforward enough but try finding the junction starting from Gloucester and it is a … Continue reading →

Posted in repertoire | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

the Chantry Singers reunion

Posted on June 19, 2016 by vhk10

The Chantry Singers disbanded in autumn 2010. A couple of years ago there was a reunion, and as it was a success they had another one – in the meantime I’d got myself added to the invitation list as a … Continue reading →

Posted in choirs, singing - other | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bach cello suites at the Festival

Posted on June 16, 2016 by vhk10

Philip Higham played all six Bach cello suites in three lunchtime concerts and between us we got to all of them. The venues were scattered around the city centre: Argyle St URC church, St Swithin’s and the Masonic Hall. This … Continue reading →

Posted in going to concerts | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

an organist’s wedding and two Festival concerts

Posted on June 9, 2016 by vhk10

There was just too much going on on May 21st. I had been due to sing a concert in Reading but asked to be released from it when I realised there were enough sopranos and some unrepeatable events going on … Continue reading →

Posted in festivals, going to concerts, singing at services | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

20th anniversary

Posted on June 1, 2016 by vhk10

It’s our 20th wedding anniversary this month – so who from 1996 remains on the local musical scene? (Strictly speaking, I didn’t arrive in Bath till late August, but I started investigating choirs before I moved here.) In Bath, we … Continue reading →

Posted in choirs | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment