Author Archives: vhk10

Advent at Christ Church Bath

Posted on January 14, 2013 by vhk10

We held over our Advent carol service till the second Sunday of Advent, in order not to clash with similar services at Bath Abbey and elsewhere. There was a piece (and composer) new to me: Come, thou long-expected Jesus by … Continue reading →

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a Bohème that will run and run

Posted on January 13, 2013 by vhk10

We went to see Welsh National Opera’s La bohème in Bristol, the first time I’d had this standard operatic experience. The production was new this year, and I predict that it will be returning more than once, as it suits … Continue reading →

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The muscle-memory Messiah

Posted on December 19, 2012 by vhk10

#MemorisedMessiah Even up North they don’t do this – sing the Messiah from memory. The Bristol Choral Society do it every year, and although newcomers are offered a rather gentler way in I have decided to do it the hard … Continue reading →

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A service with 12 anthems

Posted on December 19, 2012 by vhk10

I moonlighted (is that the correct past tense?) on Advent Sunday by singing an Advent carol service at another local church whose organist is leaving at the end of the month. The choir was expanded with several singers who’ve joined … Continue reading →

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seasonal music at the ballet

Posted on December 13, 2012 by vhk10

Thanks to my bank, my daughter and I enjoyed a night out at the Northern Ballet Theatre’s production of Beauty and the Beast. It was the first time I’d been to the ballet for many years, and rather than one … Continue reading →

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Mozartfest 2012 (3): what others in the family heard

Posted on December 13, 2012 by vhk10

Here’s a quick run-down of what other family members went to in the Bath Mozartfest 2012. My husband went to a lunchtime recital by Gautier Capuçon (cello) and Gabriela Montero. As well as works by Beethoven and Schumann, this included … Continue reading →

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Mozartfest 2012 (2): Alisdair Beatson and the Jerusalem Quartet

Posted on December 12, 2012 by vhk10

I went to two more concerts in the Mozartfest. Firstly Alisdair Beatson played a song-inspired programme in the Guildhall. The centrepiece was Schubert’s Wanderer Fantasy. I’m not sure I’d ever heard this live before. It was played with great vigour … Continue reading →

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The Art of Fugue on a Fazioli

Posted on December 8, 2012 by vhk10

We went to hear Angela Hewitt make one of her fairly frequent visits to Bath to give a recital in the Mozartfest. Last time I went she moved some distance from her usual stomping ground of Bach; this time she … Continue reading →

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Singing by numbers

Posted on November 22, 2012 by vhk10

So I’ve had my audition. This choir uses a system I hadn’t encountered before: you are marked by the musical director in various categories and this is distilled into a single score out of 10, which you are told. I … Continue reading →

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Note clusters in Ely

Posted on November 19, 2012 by vhk10

I made a swift return to Ely Cathedral, this time for a weekend of services with the Erleigh Cantors. We weren’t able to do introits and we weren’t at full strength, because it wasn’t half-term for some people, so our … Continue reading →

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