Author Archives: vhk10

My part in a busy choral weekend

Posted on April 19, 2013 by vhk10

@BristolChoral Bristol was saturated with choral concerts over the weekend of 23-24 March. On Sunday night Colston Hall hosted a performance of Mahler 8. On Saturday there were concerts by the Bristol Phoenix Choir, Exultate Singers, and the one I … Continue reading →

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How to improve on Handel

Posted on March 20, 2013 by vhk10

I don’t often get so grabbed by a half-heard piece of music that I have to drop everything to listen properly, but it happened the other day. I was in the kitchen defrosting the fridge and across the hall Radio … Continue reading →

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the Cathedral with the lift

Posted on March 6, 2013 by vhk10

Since I sang in Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral last year, they have installed a passenger lift, discreetly tucked away at the east end. I can’t think of any other English Cathedrals with a lift inside the main part of the building … Continue reading →

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The Chet’s-RNCM axis

Posted on March 6, 2013 by vhk10

Like many others, I’ve been quite distressed by the evidence emerging of sexual abuse in the past at Chetham’s music school in Manchester, with allegations extending also to the RNCM. This follows the conviction a decade ago of the director … Continue reading →

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Sequins, meat-hooks and umbrellas

Posted on March 2, 2013 by vhk10

#wnolulu WNO didn’t make it to Bristol with their new production of Lulu, so I had to go to Cardiff. Judging by what I heard around me, quite a few others had crossed the Severn for the opening night. (I … Continue reading →

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Rubbing shoulders with Vivienne Westwood

Posted on February 14, 2013 by vhk10

My husband ended a working day in London with a recital of Brahms’ works for violin and piano by Christian Tetzlaff and Lars Vogt, at the Wigmore Hall. These performances brought out a profound quality in the music which one … Continue reading →

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Epiphany at Partis and a naval funeral

Posted on February 8, 2013 by vhk10

For Epiphany we paid a visit to Partis College, a charity which provides homes for women of professional status, all arranged around a large, elegant central court. Being private, and on the outskirts of the city, it’s one of Bath’s … Continue reading →

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The Wexford Carol at last

Posted on February 7, 2013 by vhk10

Our Christmas carol service brought my first chance to sing what I think is one of the most beautiful carols of all: the Wexford Carol. This gorgeous Irish melody doesn’t really need all the oooh-ing and aah-ing that John Rutter … Continue reading →

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counting lengths by compositions

Posted on February 7, 2013 by vhk10

I go swimming most weeks at a local pool, doing 20 laps up and down in my lunch break. Sometimes I get so relaxed doing this that I lose count of how many laps I’ve done. Recently it occurred to … Continue reading →

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singing Messiah to 3,000

Posted on January 16, 2013 by vhk10

Strictly speaking, I didn’t do this, because the audience was split between the ‘mini-Messiah‘ in the afternoon and a full performance (with a few cuts) in the evening. But singing to a nearly-full Colston Hall was a change from the … Continue reading →

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