Category Archives: repertoire

the asbestos symphony

Posted on August 25, 2018 by vhk10

The texts of Mahler’s 8th Symphony can be problematic. How do the two parts fit together? And can one take Part II at all seriously in an age when gender differences are played down? A further potential problem with Mahler’s … Continue reading →

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memory test

Posted on April 28, 2018 by vhk10

It is my boast (and this is a bit of a boast) that I almost never totally forget a piece of music that I’ve performed, however long the interval until I perform it again. Unfortunately I usually don’t remember it … Continue reading →

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in praise of … the forgery

Posted on March 30, 2018 by vhk10

For Good Friday we are about to sing Crux fidelis by the person I shall call – following the convention used for Classical authors – Pseudo-King John IV of Portugal. This work obviously fooled the musical world for a while, … Continue reading →

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#purcelgar

Posted on August 5, 2017 by vhk10

Acknowledgement to Dave Alkan for the hashtag, too good not to take over. When I get to sing in the Prom on Wednesday I expect I’ll want to write about the experience rather than the repertoire, so here are some … Continue reading →

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Walking with YouTube

Posted on May 15, 2017 by vhk10

Last week I sang Handel’s ‘Where’er you walk’ at a graveside ceremony for a member of my husband’s family. I shan’t write more about the occasion here, but instead talk about my use of recordings in preparation. This aria used … Continue reading →

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review of the year – 2016

Posted on January 24, 2017 by vhk10

And what a year it was. I sang in the Three Choirs Festival Chorus. I sang lots of choral masterpieces (and Carmina Burana) for the first time. I made my débuts in several new venues, sang before a member of … Continue reading →

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what’s top of the bucket list now?

Posted on December 26, 2016 by vhk10

Like many singers I have a ‘bucket list’ of the works I would like to sing and have never done. For as far back as I can remember until 2008, the work at the top of it was Bach’s B … Continue reading →

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‘some of the most demanding work in the repertoire for bassoon’

Posted on October 1, 2016 by vhk10

So says the Wikipedia article on Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis. Bassoons? Does the writer of this realise what the chorus sopranos are asked to do?! This is a work where you can’t tell by looking at a vocal line whether it … Continue reading →

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the themes of the Festival

Posted on July 8, 2016 by vhk10

I’ve been a bit quiet recently. Most of my singing activity has been rehearsing for the 3 Choirs Festival, and what goes on in the rehearsal room stays in the rehearsal room, or at any rate doesn’t appear here. I’ve … Continue reading →

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Gloucester’s best kept secret

Posted on June 19, 2016 by vhk10

Junction 11a of the M5 is one of the more mysterious bits of the British motorway network. Leaving the motorway there to drive into Gloucester is straightforward enough but try finding the junction starting from Gloucester and it is a … Continue reading →

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