Author Archives: vhk10

a memorial concert

Posted on November 2, 2015 by vhk10

We had a particular involvement in Bristol Choral Society’s Verdi Requiem in Colston Hall with the British Sinfonietta, as we contributed to the cost in memory of my late father-in-law. I was singing, and in fact this was the first … Continue reading →

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The Bath Magazine features choirs

Posted on October 29, 2015 by vhk10

@thebathmagazine We receive a free magazine ‘The Bath Magazine’ every month. (The other similar publication ‘Bath Life’ has changed its distribution – ‘it comes down to numbers’ is what I was told – and is no longer delivered to our … Continue reading →

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Two concerts in Bath churches

Posted on October 16, 2015 by vhk10

I’ve recently been to a couple of enjoyable short concerts where I knew the performers. In Manvers Street Baptist Church, I heard Sara Foster work her way through the year with ‘A Song for All Seasons’, accompanied by Colin Hunt. … Continue reading →

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I sell my soul to the Three Choirs Festival

Posted on October 7, 2015 by vhk10

About a month ago I auditioned for the chorus for the Three Choirs Festival 2016, to be held in Gloucester, and have now heard that I have got in. It’s a big commitment for three months, and people from the … Continue reading →

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More luxury casting at the ROH

Posted on October 7, 2015 by vhk10

Others in the family went to see Le Nozze di Figaro at the Royal Opera House, and came back with good reports. The only slight reservation was about the orchestra being a little lacking in colour compared with the singing, … Continue reading →

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Note-bashing with YouTube

Posted on September 28, 2015 by vhk10

I frequently turn to YouTube to help me learn unfamiliar church music repertoire; even if I already have a recording, it’s often easier to reach for an online performance than trying to locate it on a CD or cassette tape. … Continue reading →

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a Bairstow and Stanford-fest

Posted on September 21, 2015 by vhk10

I took part in the latter part of the Cathedral Chamber Choir’s visit to York Minster. (Rather annoyingly, this meant that I missed meeting the Precentor, a college friend of mine). The visit was a little subdued because one of … Continue reading →

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a change of Musical Director

Posted on September 10, 2015 by vhk10

Bristol Choral Society is advertising for a new Musical Director, as Adrian Partington is stepping down after fifteen years in the post. Further details may be found here. There are a lot of local changes going on, as Bath Camerata … Continue reading →

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Three Proms

Posted on September 10, 2015 by vhk10

Between us we went to three Promenade concerts. Firstly Prom 9 – the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Leif Ove Andsnes conducting and playing Beethoven’s 1st and 4th piano conceros and Stravinsky’s Apollon Musagète, which went down well with those in … Continue reading →

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at the home of the Garter

Posted on August 31, 2015 by vhk10

It was a long time since I’d sung at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle – previous visits were quite social affairs with a drinks party for us in the conference centre next to the Chapel. This time the Erleigh … Continue reading →

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Dibble-Dibble. . . GUSTAV!!

Posted on August 27, 2015 by vhk10

In the immortal words of Leif Segerstam. I don’t know whether he was talking about Mahler 8, but it seems an appropriate response. At last, an opportunity came round to perform this again. It didn’t work out quite as planned, … Continue reading →

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Bostridge on Winterreise

Posted on August 18, 2015 by vhk10

We went to hear a postponed talk by Ian Bostridge in a local church, connected to his new book on Winterreise. He talked in general terms about the work’s history and his own performance history of it, and then expanded … Continue reading →

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