Author Archives: vhk10

The Sea Symphony (2): Cardiff

Posted on February 17, 2016 by vhk10

Our third performance of the Sea Symphony was at St David’s Hall in Cardiff. I hope our diction came over well because the audience (who’d chosen us in preference to Ireland v Wales in the rugby) weren’t able to get … Continue reading →

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The Sea Symphony (1): Basingstoke and London

Posted on January 31, 2016 by vhk10

The first two of Bristol (+ Gloucester) Choral Society’s three outings with the Philharmonia Orchestra, John Wilson and the Sea Symphony were to the Anvil, Basingstoke, and to the Royal Festival Hall, where we were joined by Philharmonia Voices. I’ll … Continue reading →

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Complicated things with jabots

Posted on January 30, 2016 by vhk10

Not being sure about my future with Priory Voices, I have been looking at other similar choirs and joined one, the Harsnett Choir, for a weekend of services in Wells. I’d been on their mailing list for a few years … Continue reading →

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You know you’ve just sung the Sea Symphony when…

Posted on January 25, 2016 by vhk10

… you cannot see the ‘Following’ button on Twitter without hearing the end of the Scherzo.

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♥ Olga and Onegin are now friends

Posted on January 21, 2016 by vhk10

Wouldn’t the plot of Eugene Onegin work well as a series of status updates? We went to see it at the Royal Opera House. This particular production was on its second outing here and had apparently been toned down a … Continue reading →

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On the German border

Posted on January 15, 2016 by vhk10

I made two overseas trips in December, both near the border of Germany. First a short break in Aachen. The Cathedral there had a handsome organ, though its unique shape may give it some acoustic peculiarities (I didn’t hear the … Continue reading →

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2015 and 2016’s resolutions

Posted on December 31, 2015 by vhk10

As 2015 ebbs away, I look back on it as a year of progress rather than achievement. It couldn’t really match up to 2014 but there were some wishlist works that I got to perform: Poulenc’s Gloria (twice in a … Continue reading →

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BCS … with bling

Posted on December 31, 2015 by vhk10

I missed Bristol Choral Society’s Messiah last year, so my memory needed a bit of refreshing this time. Our orchestra was the Bristol Ensemble, which meant modern pitch, and the high notes went with a bit more zing. We had … Continue reading →

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Advent and Christmas 2015

Posted on December 31, 2015 by vhk10

Our two carol services, separated by a fortnight, brought some new pieces for me to sing and some welcome reprises. Advent brought Anthony Piccolo’s I Look from Afar, quite a demanding setting of this text, but worthwhile. And my singing … Continue reading →

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Windows for Finzi

Posted on December 7, 2015 by vhk10

A set of 8 stained-glass windows by Tom Denny commemorating Gerald Finzi will be installed in Gloucester Cathedral next June. I was given a flyer at choir practice, but I think this has not been widely publicised and deserves to … Continue reading →

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Schön and Schoenberg

Posted on November 30, 2015 by vhk10

The cinecasts from the Metropolitan Opera have moved beyond the safer options into more daring repertoire, and I made sure to catch the transmission of their new production of Lulu. Lothar Koenigs from WNO replaced James Levine as conductor. The … Continue reading →

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being dropped

Posted on November 24, 2015 by vhk10

I pencilled in a couple of Cathedral weekends in 2016 with a choir I do such things with, only to find that I’m not invited on them. I won’t discuss the reasons in detail here (they are to do with … Continue reading →

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