Autumn arrived and feels as if it has almost gone already! This is not helped by the premature arrival of Christmas in all the shop windows. Despite this, it has been a busy couple of months musically, with lots of enjoyable highlights.
One was my first performance in the Royal Albert Hall with the Philharmonia Chorus. We lifted Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony to the rafters to the beautiful sound of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and soloists.
I have also had the pleasure of singing in a couple of Sunday Evening Coffee Concerts with the chamber ensemble Epiphany, which I always really enjoy. One was a vocal recital where I had the honour of singing some of the most beautiful pieces in the repertoire, including Schumann’s Frauenliebe und Leben, one of my all-time favourites.
Another development since September has been taking on a couple of choirs at Macclesfield Music Centre, where I teach. It has been exciting and I have loved meeting everyone involved and exploring some fabulous music with them. Singing teaching is such a joy: being able to pass on what I have learnt and see others understand and improve is enormously worthwhile.
Coming up
7 December — Soloist for Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols and Mozart’s Regina coeli, K.108 with the Barnby Choir, Wilmslow.
17 December — Philharmonia Chorus in concert with King’s College Choir at the Royal Albert Hall.
18 December — Manchester City Centre Lunchtime Carol Service.