Author Archives: vhk10

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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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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