Tag Archives: Berlioz

The Kinshasa band

Posted on September 29, 2014 by vhk10

The Kinshasa Symphony Orchestra, founded 20 years ago, visited the UK for a four-concert tour. We were invited to join them for the final concert in Bristol, in the finale of Beethoven 9. They brought their own strong choir with … Continue reading →

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Prom 44: Strauss, Elgar and Berlioz

Posted on September 5, 2014 by vhk10

I don’t think I’ve been in the Arena for a sell-out Prom before. I was sold my ticket with seconds to spare before I squeezed into the Arena. A popular programme, and I heard a fair few Australian accents in … Continue reading →

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my top 10 moments in the Grande Messe des Morts

Posted on July 3, 2014 by vhk10

@gloschor I spent last Saturday rehearsing Berlioz’ Grande Messe des Morts in preparation for performances in the autumn. I’m still smitten by this piece and present my short list of favourite moments. N.B. I don’t want to imply that the … Continue reading →

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My 13

Posted on February 18, 2014 by vhk10

The new Op13 music shop in Bristol has some posters inside, each showing 13 composers chosen by local musicians, some known personally to me. I couldn’t see them without thinking of what my own list would be and have used … Continue reading →

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Bath Festival 2013: Berlioz at the Forum

Posted on July 1, 2013 by vhk10

I went to only one Bath Festival concert this year because most of the other interesting ones were around the first weekend of the Festival when I was away or busy. There were certainly some other concerts I’d have gone … Continue reading →

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Prom 39: the off-stage brass that wasn’t

Posted on September 3, 2012 by vhk10

It’s been a dozen years since Berlioz’ Grande Messe des Morts was heard at the Proms, and the Albert Hall would seem a natural place for it, because of the huge forces, including four extra sets of brass instruments. When … Continue reading →

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An unrepresentative audience for Berlioz

Posted on April 25, 2012 by vhk10

I went to Welsh National Opera’s production of Beatrice and Benedict at the Bristol Hippodrome. This was a sumptuous production, with lavish sets and costumes, and beautifully lit as the evening turned to moonlight in the first act. But if … Continue reading →

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My fantasy Mass

Posted on February 7, 2012 by vhk10

I’m going to put together a Mass setting for my own amusement (and I suppose that of my readers) of some of my favourite settings of these familiar texts. Two constraints: no composer is to be repeated, and the movements … Continue reading →

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Weber/Berlioz at the Proms

Posted on September 26, 2011 by vhk10

My husband went to the penultimate night of the Proms. It’s no longer invariably Beethoven 9; this time it was a semi-staged performance of Der Freischütz in the adaptation by Berlioz, which sets recitatives to music and uses Invitation to … Continue reading →

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LPs batch 20: displaying umlauts

Posted on June 29, 2010 by vhk10

Our Sibelius LPs are a nice tidy batch comprising six discs containing the symphonies and a few other well-known pieces. This batch included the ones conducted by Karajan. I’m now beginning to finish certain categories and the last of Mozart’s … Continue reading →

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