Author Archives: vhk10

Igor Levit at the Wigmore Hall

Posted on November 24, 2015 by vhk10

I was in London and this looked the most interesting concert. Others in the family had heard Igor Levit at the Proms recently and I got one of the last few tickets for the recital of three works including variations. … Continue reading →

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

remembering at All Souls’ tide

Posted on November 8, 2015 by vhk10

It’s the season of All Souls (I sang Fauré’s Requiem at a service), and sadly my thoughts turn to several people whom I got to know through music who have died in the last year. I suppose this will happen … Continue reading →

Posted in category-defying | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Frank Martin in St Edmundsbury

Posted on November 8, 2015 by vhk10

It is a long time since I’ve been to St Edmundsbury Cathedral. In the meantime it’s sprouted a tower, accommodated a visitor centre and joined the trend for installing lifts (rather better integrated with the building than York Minster’s). It … Continue reading →

Posted in singing at services | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

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

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 →

Posted in choirs | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

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 →

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

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 →

Posted in choirs, festivals | Tagged | Leave a comment

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 →

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

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 →

Posted in repertoire | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in singing at services | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment