Tag Archives: Bristol Choral Society

Call me Al (2): Ahoy!

Another week, another cantata by Alexander l’Estrange. This time it was Ahoy! for the Mary Rose, performed in Colston Hall as part of Bristol Choral Society’s outreach programme. Choir members were joined by a large crew from several Bristol schools, … Continue reading

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the Evangelist jinx

I wonder whether I should be allowed to sing the St Matthew Passion at all, given that I seem to bring illness with me when I perform it. The first time I did so, the Evangelist was unwell and his … Continue reading

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The Sea Symphony (2): Cardiff

Our third performance of the Sea Symphony was at St David’s Hall in Cardiff. I hope our diction came over well because the audience (who’d chosen us in preference to Ireland v Wales in the rugby) weren’t able to get … Continue reading

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The Sea Symphony (1): Basingstoke and London

The first two of Bristol (+ Gloucester) Choral Society’s three outings with the Philharmonia Orchestra, John Wilson and the Sea Symphony were to the Anvil, Basingstoke, and to the Royal Festival Hall, where we were joined by Philharmonia Voices. I’ll … Continue reading

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2015 and 2016’s resolutions

As 2015 ebbs away, I look back on it as a year of progress rather than achievement. It couldn’t really match up to 2014 but there were some wishlist works that I got to perform: Poulenc’s Gloria (twice in a … Continue reading

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BCS … with bling

I missed Bristol Choral Society’s Messiah last year, so my memory needed a bit of refreshing this time. Our orchestra was the Bristol Ensemble, which meant modern pitch, and the high notes went with a bit more zing. We had … Continue reading

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being dropped

I pencilled in a couple of Cathedral weekends in 2016 with a choir I do such things with, only to find that I’m not invited on them. I won’t discuss the reasons in detail here (they are to do with … Continue reading

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a memorial concert

We had a particular involvement in Bristol Choral Society’s Verdi Requiem in Colston Hall with the British Sinfonietta, as we contributed to the cost in memory of my late father-in-law. I was singing, and in fact this was the first … Continue reading

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a change of Musical Director

Bristol Choral Society is advertising for a new Musical Director, as Adrian Partington is stepping down after fifteen years in the post. Further details may be found here. There are a lot of local changes going on, as Bath Camerata … Continue reading

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The Bristol Connection

The final concert of Bristol Choral Society’s season, in the Cathedral, was largely music connected to Bristol. (Incidentally I had my triennial audition, and can continue to sing.) Bristol does not feature very largely on the map of British composers. … Continue reading

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Poulenc’s Gloria (1)

The first outing of Poulenc’s Gloria was with Bristol Choral Society and the National Children’s Orchestra in Colston Hall conducted by Howard Williams with Rhiannon Llewellyn as soloist. In fact the NCO run several orchestras, and we performed with the … Continue reading

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Where’s the audience for Haydn?

Bristol Choral Society’s latest concert was Haydn’s Creation in Colston Hall. We were joined by soloists Helen-Jane Howells, Paul Badley and David Ireland and accompanied by the Bristol Ensemble (I was particularly impressed by their flutes warbling and trilling their … Continue reading

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