Author Archives: vhk10

a 1950’s toreador

Posted on July 25, 2015 by vhk10

My husband went to prop up ENO’s bank balance and see their production of Carmen, as he happened to be in London. Vocally it was good, with Michaela as the pick of the bunch. The main problems he had centred … Continue reading →

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The Bristol Connection

Posted on July 9, 2015 by vhk10

The final concert of Bristol Choral Society’s season, in the Cathedral, was largely music connected to Bristol. (Incidentally I had my triennial audition, and can continue to sing.) Bristol does not feature very largely on the map of British composers. … Continue reading →

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Trumpet and organ in Bathwick

Posted on July 9, 2015 by vhk10

St. Mary’s Bathwick is beginning a fundraising campaign for its organ (I think this is at least the third such campaign since I’ve been in Bath). It’s a Willis, and still at old Philharmonic pitch, which makes some performers baulk … Continue reading →

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The Bath Festival Chorus redux

Posted on June 26, 2015 by vhk10

Long-term readers of this blog will know that I long for the Bath Festival Chorus to be revived. I was asked for my thoughts by another interested party and here they are, edited slightly in the interests of diplomacy: The … Continue reading →

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Dropping the chamber organ

Posted on June 25, 2015 by vhk10

I hadn’t sung with Priory Voices since 2013 but the chance came to join them at Canterbury Cathedral. It was nearly taken away again, as the original dates were double booked; fortunately we were able to transfer to the following … Continue reading →

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The Bath International Festival 2015

Posted on June 11, 2015 by vhk10

There was more of it this year than last, but in the end we didn’t get to much. As last year, my youngest was involved in a Festival concert, this time ‘Down the Rabbit Hole’, a piece inspired by Alice … Continue reading →

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Some contrasting Magnificats

Posted on June 2, 2015 by vhk10

The Erleigh Cantors sang a concert in St Peter’s Earley, built around three settings of the Magnificat. Two were settings we’ve trotted out in various Cathedrals: Giles Swayne’s (I have been so well drilled in this that I can now … Continue reading →

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Hier ist Friede

Posted on May 22, 2015 by vhk10

If I want a fix of Second Viennese School round here, I’m most likely to get it over at the Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford. Over the years I’ve heard several performances, most recently from the Britten Sinfonia, who are … Continue reading →

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Poulenc’s Gloria (2)

Posted on May 15, 2015 by vhk10

I joined CanZona (replacing a singer with a broken leg) for a concert in Holy Trinity Bradford (on Avon) conducted by David Bishop. I’d never sung in this church before; it has a pleasant acoustic though the chancel is narrow … Continue reading →

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Eastern European brass lives!

Posted on May 1, 2015 by vhk10

Some of my family went to see distinguished visitors to Colston Hall – the Czech Philharmonic conducted by Jiří Bělohlávek. Josef Špaček was the soloist in two works – Mendelssohn’s violin concerto and that local favourite The Lark Ascending. I … Continue reading →

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Poulenc’s Gloria (1)

Posted on May 1, 2015 by vhk10

The first outing of Poulenc’s Gloria was with Bristol Choral Society and the National Children’s Orchestra in Colston Hall conducted by Howard Williams with Rhiannon Llewellyn as soloist. In fact the NCO run several orchestras, and we performed with the … Continue reading →

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Holy Week 2015

Posted on April 24, 2015 by vhk10

We had quite a lot to do this year. On Maundy Thursday we trooped up the hill to sing at the Eucharist at St Stephen’s, which was in the context of an actual meal. I hadn’t sung Bruckner’s Pange lingua … Continue reading →

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