Category Archives: singing in concerts

an early start for Bach

Posted on March 15, 2024 by vhk10

March was a busy month and first up was Bach’s St Matthew Passion in Gloucester Cathedral, a success to our St John Passion of 2020. I feel I know this work very well because I’ve listened to it countless times, … Continue reading →

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roundup of 2023

Posted on January 10, 2024 by vhk10

So we get to the end of 2023, and if it wasn’t one of the most vintage years it had some remarkable and unexpected highlights. And it included the 20th anniversary of this blog, which I’m afraid passed without comment … Continue reading →

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Messiah at the Beacon

Posted on December 29, 2023 by vhk10

So, over 4 years after the original reopening date (the hall was at first going to close from 2017-19), with Tudor remains conserved, asbestos removed and resistance on the council overcome, we now have the Bristol Beacon! Bristol Choral Society … Continue reading →

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a work from the syllabus

Posted on December 18, 2023 by vhk10

Gloucester Choral Society presented a mixed programme rather than a single work for the Christmas concert this year. Introducing the four-part arrangement of Britten’s Ceremony of Carols our conductor said it should be compulsory on everyone’s syllabus in school. Well … Continue reading →

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the Ronald Reagan Gloria

Posted on November 29, 2023 by vhk10

So the Gloria from Duruflé’s Messe Cum Jubilo, was once described to me, by someone who presumably was reminded of the cavalry arriving in a Western when he heard it. Bristol Choral Society presented an all-Duruflé programme at Clifton Cathedral … Continue reading →

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Cimbalom for Peace

Posted on October 16, 2023 by vhk10

Gloucester Choral Society’s Concert for Peace unfortunately turned out to be more timely than intended. It matched a rarely heard work with one that has been extremely popular in recent years. I looked for recent performances of Donald Swann’s Requiem … Continue reading →

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Three Choirs 2023: the final evening

Posted on August 15, 2023 by vhk10

The Apostles – relatively rarely done because of the number of soloists required – was missing piece needed to complete my performances of the three great choral works by Elgar. I remarked before that The Kingdom will do its best … Continue reading →

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Three Choirs 2023: From Pub to Pulpit …. to pub

Posted on August 8, 2023 by vhk10

The Festival Chorus had fewer concerts than in 2016, but took park this morning event on the Thursday, a collaboration with folk ensembles Broomdasher and Coracle. Like Sancta Civitas, this was a hangover of Vaughan Williams-related programming that had been … Continue reading →

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Three Choirs 2023: Tuesday evening

Posted on August 7, 2023 by vhk10

Tuesday brought a change of orchestra with the Royal Philharmonic replacing the Philharmonia. And the most unfamiliar of the music we had to sing. Holst’s Ode to Death was only a name to me previously. As long as you can … Continue reading →

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Three Choirs 2023: the first Saturday concert

Posted on July 30, 2023 by vhk10

Our first concert, on the evening of the first day, contained two choral items in the first half. Rise up, O Sun! was a new composition by Eleanor Alberga setting words by Blake. There was plenty to get your teeth … Continue reading →

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