After an excellent second rehearsal with the orchestra for the 1st and the 2nd, we travelled to Dresden, for a concert in the beautiful Dreikönigskirche
It has a beautiful Baroque altar [well, 4/5ths of same] which along with the back wall and the tower was all that was left by the RAF in 1945; then the Russians destroyed a bit more.... after much fundraising from all over the world, it was finally reopened as a church in 1990... clearly the damaged altar is a wonderful and moving monument. There is also a frieze along the back wall which looks original.
The church was full to bursting, and they were in a mood for a New Year's concert... even happy to rattle their keys about in Sleigh Ride.
A lovely evening - and even Bine from Die Medlz came, which was nice...
And tonight we have been in the Volkshaus in Jena - another packed house... an early concert, pre-fireworks... they are starting up in earnest now... Wonderful place to sing in, and a delightful, and seemingly delighted crowd... lots of CDs spread amongst Eastern Germany over the last two days.
We were looked after splendidly, and were given lots to eat.. what more could one desire.
Happy New Year!
PS: Thanks to Dr Wok in Jena for my lunch today, tho' did you have to put sugar in my green tea?
Saturday, 31 December 2011
Thursday, 29 December 2011
Frankfurt (Oder)
First rehearsal with Howard Griffiths and the Brandenburgischen Staatsorchesters Frankfurt this morning went very well... everyone gorgeous! ...and with a Harp and a third trumpet tomorrow will be even more so.
We have two New year concerts on the 1st and the 2nd in Potsdam and Frankfurt (Oder) - we last worked with Howard on some New Year concerts in Zurich with the ZKO near the end of the last Millennium - clearly Steve has got younger, but the rest of us agreed we looked good on it!
Also bumped into the illustrious Hilliard counter-tenor, David James on our flight out to Berlin with his wife and son - what splendour... They live in Berlin and the UK, and David says they often share the plane with muzos... even Sir Simon Rattle. He has still not forgotten that he gave me my first singing lessons - what a burden for anyone to bear! ... but truly, it's not all his fault.
More orchestral rehearsals and then two pre-New Year gigs {Dresden and Jena} before the concerts.
We are all going to cross the bridge by the concert hall later today and walk into Poland...
Marvellous.
Wednesday, 21 December 2011
I'll be home for Christmas
Busy couple of days in Switzerland, firstly a concert in a beautiful church in Zurich, where Decca records Cecilia Bartoli... amazingly enough, it was beautiful to sing in!
Then on to Berne - firstly to wish a seniors party a Happy Christmas, we sang them through it, inbetween the speeches, Elvis was there again! - and we all sang together the German Christmas Classic, O du fröhliche, then to the wonderful slightly underground ONO theatre [just down the road from Einstein's old house] in the centre of the City...
At all three events, lovely to see friends old and new... and to be given many treats... some of which we shall share with our families (if they make it home!)
Then on to Berne - firstly to wish a seniors party a Happy Christmas, we sang them through it, inbetween the speeches, Elvis was there again! - and we all sang together the German Christmas Classic, O du fröhliche, then to the wonderful slightly underground ONO theatre [just down the road from Einstein's old house] in the centre of the City...
At all three events, lovely to see friends old and new... and to be given many treats... some of which we shall share with our families (if they make it home!)
Sunday, 18 December 2011
Zuzwil, CH
Another packed church, this time courtesy of of our friend (and Swiss agent), Silvan (and his friends and family)...
Elvis decided only to put his wig on today, rather than the full change... but it might well have felt de trop in such surroundings!
There was even a smattering of snow which came down in the interval, thus creating a white blanket for us to leave the church on.
A wonderful meal after the concert with Silvan, Andrea and little Michel... (who sang us his rendition of Hey Jude).
More snow now... looks like we can stop dreaming...
Elvis decided only to put his wig on today, rather than the full change... but it might well have felt de trop in such surroundings!
There was even a smattering of snow which came down in the interval, thus creating a white blanket for us to leave the church on.
A wonderful meal after the concert with Silvan, Andrea and little Michel... (who sang us his rendition of Hey Jude).
More snow now... looks like we can stop dreaming...
Saturday, 17 December 2011
Erpe-Mere, BE
A very Christmas-filled a cappella evening in the church at Erpe-Mere [quite near Brussels]... lots of festiveness, some serious, some lighter, and a packed church of happy faces.
Glorious - and a great deal of action at the CD table afterwards - we are lucky that people have been so lax buying presents, and need to rush to us!
As ever, in Belgium, glorious food abounded - my big brochette especially fine...
Presently at Sheraton at Brussels Airport, we fly to Switzerland pretty early tomorrow for the last four gigs before Christmas break.
Glorious - and a great deal of action at the CD table afterwards - we are lucky that people have been so lax buying presents, and need to rush to us!
As ever, in Belgium, glorious food abounded - my big brochette especially fine...
Presently at Sheraton at Brussels Airport, we fly to Switzerland pretty early tomorrow for the last four gigs before Christmas break.
Antwerp with Kiki
Blog 100 of the year...
We shared a bill last night in a dock hangar in the port of Antwerp with Kiki Dee & her guitarist, Carmelo Luggeri; and we sang a couple of songs with them too...
The hangar is transformed every 4 or 5 years for a massive celebration of the company Mourik - when we arrived it was still quite hangar-like, but it was, by the evening, full of chefs and excellent food, and a fully-rigged stage.
After our set, wonderfully accompanied by Chris Hatt as ever, Kiki Dee did her stuff...
As an encore, we felt we had blundered into a light ent TV show from years ago, as we backed Kiki in the Bee Gees song How Do You Mend a Broken Heart? and then White Christmas. Wonderful to work with Kiki and Carmelo - both fantastic, and also to share in Mourik's festivities.
On to Erpe-Mere tonight...
We shared a bill last night in a dock hangar in the port of Antwerp with Kiki Dee & her guitarist, Carmelo Luggeri; and we sang a couple of songs with them too...
The hangar is transformed every 4 or 5 years for a massive celebration of the company Mourik - when we arrived it was still quite hangar-like, but it was, by the evening, full of chefs and excellent food, and a fully-rigged stage.
After our set, wonderfully accompanied by Chris Hatt as ever, Kiki Dee did her stuff...
As an encore, we felt we had blundered into a light ent TV show from years ago, as we backed Kiki in the Bee Gees song How Do You Mend a Broken Heart? and then White Christmas. Wonderful to work with Kiki and Carmelo - both fantastic, and also to share in Mourik's festivities.
On to Erpe-Mere tonight...
Wednesday, 14 December 2011
Bridewell Hall #2
Another lovely night in the City of London... a packed Bridewell Hall had as good acoustic as ever, and a wonderful atmosphere of revellers!
We reprised Wendell the Worm as from our Captain Beaky efforts last week at the RAH... and everyone laughed lots. Was it our dancing?
Lots of Christmas fun for one and all - including Steve dressed up as Elvis (although as a friend pointed out, an Elvis who has been on a serious diet!)...
Christmas and Cricket CDs were popular - how alliterative people's tastes are...
Now just a jaunt to the European mainland before Christmas - Belgium and then Switzerland; before Germany, Estonia, Russia and Belgium again in late December / January - what fun!
We reprised Wendell the Worm as from our Captain Beaky efforts last week at the RAH... and everyone laughed lots. Was it our dancing?
Lots of Christmas fun for one and all - including Steve dressed up as Elvis (although as a friend pointed out, an Elvis who has been on a serious diet!)...
Christmas and Cricket CDs were popular - how alliterative people's tastes are...
Now just a jaunt to the European mainland before Christmas - Belgium and then Switzerland; before Germany, Estonia, Russia and Belgium again in late December / January - what fun!
Monday, 12 December 2011
Wonderful Captain Beaky for UNICEF
Fantastic evening at the RAH... Captain Beaky and his wonderful band were all there... Lots of dancers from National Youth Ballet (playing a large array of animals - not a dry eye at times), and a Kirov & ENB master, Dmitri Gruzdyev, as well as Jeremy Lloyd & Jim Parker (writer and composer), Joanna Lumley, Roger Moore & Deborah Moore, Alan Titchmarsh, Hugh Bonneville, Rosie Ashe & the original Captain Beaky himself, Keith Michell, appearing both on large screen and in a box in the audience to rapturous applause. Also old friends from Chess in Concert, Tabitha Webb, Tiffany Graves, Caroline Sheen, & Jon Robyns - who used his Avenue Q experience to bring Hissing Sid to life!
Our contributions were accompanying Rosie in Desmond the Duck, being accompanied by David Firman & the excellent band in Doreen the Duckling, and getting away from ducks, we sang an a cappella Wendell the Worm. We provided comments from 'offstage' in a poem read by Joanna Lumley - back to the Ds... Dilys the Dachshund, and we all sang together in There's a Light...
Splendid to see the octogenarians strut their stuff, Roger Moore in his DJ (only with green tights on his legs - he told us it was all the rage); and Jeremy Lloyd clearly moved and loving his words being displayed again to a packed house.
Mike gave Alan T. a DVD copy of Christmas Pebble Mill show that had involved both AT and Cantabile in the 1980s... the green-fingered one was delighted and said he had nothing from that time he could watch!
A glorious evening - all in aid of UNICEF... & put together by Director, Hugh Wooldridge with his usual aplomb - let's hope it can happen again sometime...
I'll ask Joanna the next time I see her at my local bus station (I've seen her before!)
Our contributions were accompanying Rosie in Desmond the Duck, being accompanied by David Firman & the excellent band in Doreen the Duckling, and getting away from ducks, we sang an a cappella Wendell the Worm. We provided comments from 'offstage' in a poem read by Joanna Lumley - back to the Ds... Dilys the Dachshund, and we all sang together in There's a Light...
Splendid to see the octogenarians strut their stuff, Roger Moore in his DJ (only with green tights on his legs - he told us it was all the rage); and Jeremy Lloyd clearly moved and loving his words being displayed again to a packed house.
Mike gave Alan T. a DVD copy of Christmas Pebble Mill show that had involved both AT and Cantabile in the 1980s... the green-fingered one was delighted and said he had nothing from that time he could watch!
A glorious evening - all in aid of UNICEF... & put together by Director, Hugh Wooldridge with his usual aplomb - let's hope it can happen again sometime...
I'll ask Joanna the next time I see her at my local bus station (I've seen her before!)
Saturday, 10 December 2011
sing-along-a Roger Moore
For Captain Beaky: just rehearsing in a dressing room at English National Ballet [just around the corner from RAH], a song with some echoes from the chorus...
We sang away, and then heard the dulcet tones of Roger Moore pitching in with the echoes from the attached Men's room... what an honour to form a quintet with a former Bond (even if he was in a separate room)!
Great rehearsals all morning... all looking and sounding good.
Excellent to meet the writers too - Jeremy Lloyd and Jim Parker - fantastic...
We sang away, and then heard the dulcet tones of Roger Moore pitching in with the echoes from the attached Men's room... what an honour to form a quintet with a former Bond (even if he was in a separate room)!
Great rehearsals all morning... all looking and sounding good.
Excellent to meet the writers too - Jeremy Lloyd and Jim Parker - fantastic...
Friday, 9 December 2011
Opwijk, BE
Despite my having forgotten my computer's power cable *, a fine two-day sojourn in Belgium was enjoyed by all...
Opwijk was a splendid Christmas evening, and we were treated excellently... Could this be because it is the home town of our Belgian agent, Thomas? Who knows...
... we did Sleigh Ride, asking the audience to provide the bells with either coins or their keys... one guy asked to borrow Richard's! Richard said it was the first time he had indeed handed over his keys to a gentleman! Oddly enough when he asked for them back, the man's wife had them.
Funny Old World.
Gertie was there once more (and heard some different songs from yesterday, thank goodness) - and we put the world to rights in the bar afterwards...
Captain Beaky weekend awaits...
* Although this is of no interest at all, let me tell you that I was able to borrow Richard's power cable when he was not using it.
Opwijk was a splendid Christmas evening, and we were treated excellently... Could this be because it is the home town of our Belgian agent, Thomas? Who knows...
... we did Sleigh Ride, asking the audience to provide the bells with either coins or their keys... one guy asked to borrow Richard's! Richard said it was the first time he had indeed handed over his keys to a gentleman! Oddly enough when he asked for them back, the man's wife had them.
Funny Old World.
Gertie was there once more (and heard some different songs from yesterday, thank goodness) - and we put the world to rights in the bar afterwards...
Captain Beaky weekend awaits...
* Although this is of no interest at all, let me tell you that I was able to borrow Richard's power cable when he was not using it.
Thursday, 8 December 2011
Herk-de-Stad, BE
Two Belgian dates before our Beaky weekend...
Just a slightly Christmas concert to start in Herk-de-Stad - near enough to Holland for our dear friend Gertie to visit - how splendid!
Once again, our new CD, Songs of Cricket outsold the others - it's a miracle; we are spreading the cricket word abroad!
As is so often the case in Belgium, the theatre here had an excellent restaurant attached - all good!
The people at the Theatre saw us at Lemmens, and convinced everybody else that we should come to Herk - these are great people! - fantastic that they did... we had a splendid time...
...on to Opwijk today...
Just a slightly Christmas concert to start in Herk-de-Stad - near enough to Holland for our dear friend Gertie to visit - how splendid!
Once again, our new CD, Songs of Cricket outsold the others - it's a miracle; we are spreading the cricket word abroad!
As is so often the case in Belgium, the theatre here had an excellent restaurant attached - all good!
The people at the Theatre saw us at Lemmens, and convinced everybody else that we should come to Herk - these are great people! - fantastic that they did... we had a splendid time...
...on to Opwijk today...
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Bridewell Hall & St Barts EPAM bash
Two gigs in one night - how splendid....luckily within a mile of each other.
Having spent a pleasant afternoon wandering on the South Bank [Globe & Tate Mod.] with Cantabile friend from Austria, Lotti...
& then had a pizza with my son & met up with my wife...
We had the first of our Bridewell Tuesdays [there's one more if you missed it on the 13th!] at 7pm, and had a lovely time with a great crowd in the splendid-to-sing-in Bridewell Hall; which had been especially Christmassed up for the occasion...
Friends old and new greeted us at the St Bride Institute, where, of course, we are Artists in Residence.
We chased on to St Bart.'s Church & heard the last half-an-hour of Tenebrae singing under the masterly direction of Nigel Short some carols published by Peters Edition and Faber [and a bit of OUP] - wonderful to hear the choir again.
Once everyone had a mince pie and some wine in their hand in the long gallery after all that, we sang our newly-published A Festival of Carols in Two Minutes (Carol, as was)... and The Twelve Days of Christmas to cheer everyone on in their drinking! Good to see old friends there - Steve McNeff, Ben Parry (who have both written for us), as well as my ex-UEA colleague, Griselda who works for OUP... (very good to see rival publishing houses being able to work together amicably!)
Off to Eurostar and Belgium in the morning...
Having spent a pleasant afternoon wandering on the South Bank [Globe & Tate Mod.] with Cantabile friend from Austria, Lotti...
& then had a pizza with my son & met up with my wife...
We had the first of our Bridewell Tuesdays [there's one more if you missed it on the 13th!] at 7pm, and had a lovely time with a great crowd in the splendid-to-sing-in Bridewell Hall; which had been especially Christmassed up for the occasion...
Friends old and new greeted us at the St Bride Institute, where, of course, we are Artists in Residence.
We chased on to St Bart.'s Church & heard the last half-an-hour of Tenebrae singing under the masterly direction of Nigel Short some carols published by Peters Edition and Faber [and a bit of OUP] - wonderful to hear the choir again.
Once everyone had a mince pie and some wine in their hand in the long gallery after all that, we sang our newly-published A Festival of Carols in Two Minutes (Carol, as was)... and The Twelve Days of Christmas to cheer everyone on in their drinking! Good to see old friends there - Steve McNeff, Ben Parry (who have both written for us), as well as my ex-UEA colleague, Griselda who works for OUP... (very good to see rival publishing houses being able to work together amicably!)
Off to Eurostar and Belgium in the morning...
Monday, 5 December 2011
Limburg
Sitting in Frankfurt aeroport, having performed in Thing last night. Disappointingly, we find that in fact the venue was called Thing and not the place... we were truly in Limburg itself [we had thought it was a suberb of same]... but it was indeed a fine thing nevertheless.
More Christmassy atmosphere... not least in the fact that there was a Chocolate shop opposite our hotel, full of treats [don't tell my wife & son]... it rained a bit, but still surprisingly temperate for wandering around the Christmas markets...
Bliss.
Various winter ailments held off long enough for the audience to hear us...
Martin looked after us well for these two German days... & our old friend Marco did the sound last night.
Now looking forward to the first of our Bridewell Tuesdays.... tomorrow... then it's off to Belgium for two days before Captain Beaky at the RAH; rehearsal then show on Sunday at 6pm... We are singing songs on our own, but also accompanying Miss Rosie Ashe... marvellous.
In case you did not know, Hissing Sid is innocent...
More Christmassy atmosphere... not least in the fact that there was a Chocolate shop opposite our hotel, full of treats [don't tell my wife & son]... it rained a bit, but still surprisingly temperate for wandering around the Christmas markets...
Bliss.
Various winter ailments held off long enough for the audience to hear us...
Martin looked after us well for these two German days... & our old friend Marco did the sound last night.
Now looking forward to the first of our Bridewell Tuesdays.... tomorrow... then it's off to Belgium for two days before Captain Beaky at the RAH; rehearsal then show on Sunday at 6pm... We are singing songs on our own, but also accompanying Miss Rosie Ashe... marvellous.
In case you did not know, Hissing Sid is innocent...
Sunday, 4 December 2011
Burbach Christmas
Christmas starts... looking forward to all; but especially our Bridewell Tuesdays... (6th & 13th)...
Had another Captain Beaky rehearsal on Friday... & everyone was happy...
All looking good for Sunday 11th; where we will share the stage with lots of huge names:-
O More Roger
Marsh Titch Alan
Grave Van Redessa
...and Joanna Lumley amongst others.
We then landed in Germany, and had a lovely Christmas evening in Burbach...
... a great crowd in the excellent 1950s theatre [which used to be a Nobel dynamite factory!], provided a splendid atmosphere; our first Christmas concert hopefully sets the tone for the next few weeks...
We are playing Thing tonight.... what larks!
Had another Captain Beaky rehearsal on Friday... & everyone was happy...
All looking good for Sunday 11th; where we will share the stage with lots of huge names:-
O More Roger
Marsh Titch Alan
Grave Van Redessa
...and Joanna Lumley amongst others.
We then landed in Germany, and had a lovely Christmas evening in Burbach...
... a great crowd in the excellent 1950s theatre [which used to be a Nobel dynamite factory!], provided a splendid atmosphere; our first Christmas concert hopefully sets the tone for the next few weeks...
We are playing Thing tonight.... what larks!
Thursday, 1 December 2011
(Sir) Tim
Had a morning recording vocals on a track for a demo of Tim Rice's new musical (written with composer Stuart Brayson):- From Here to Eternity... recorded in Tim's son-in-law's studio (Pete Hobbs of The Boy Least Likely to).
Great fun....
Let's hope it works... it's planned to come into town next year!
Whilst on the great man - here's a video of our all performing together:
CLICK HERE for fun!
Our 'hit' ...Wanderin' Star, btw... (as recorded at Lady Taverners do the other week).
Great fun....
Let's hope it works... it's planned to come into town next year!
Whilst on the great man - here's a video of our all performing together:
CLICK HERE for fun!
Our 'hit' ...Wanderin' Star, btw... (as recorded at Lady Taverners do the other week).
Champs Hill & Malcolm...
Great day down at Champs Hill, recording with Malcolm Martineau at the piano...
We completed everything we planned; Vaughan Williams, Haydn, Bridge, Poulenc, Quilter & Heneker - splendid - thus (working title) Songs of Love and War is well on its way; one more recording day, we feel and we will have all...
With our schedule in the next few weeks (and Malcolm's more so!), we 're not sure when we will finish all this... but we'll keep you posted!
Off this am to record a quick demo of a song for the new Tim Rice musical... (From Here to Eternity)... no waves in the studio, I think...
We completed everything we planned; Vaughan Williams, Haydn, Bridge, Poulenc, Quilter & Heneker - splendid - thus (working title) Songs of Love and War is well on its way; one more recording day, we feel and we will have all...
With our schedule in the next few weeks (and Malcolm's more so!), we 're not sure when we will finish all this... but we'll keep you posted!
Off this am to record a quick demo of a song for the new Tim Rice musical... (From Here to Eternity)... no waves in the studio, I think...
Tuesday, 29 November 2011
Christmas Cheer
Our Christmas album, including the newly-published, A Festival of Carols in Two Minutes, is newly available for digital download....
Hooray!
Hooray!
Luton Music Club
Lovely evening on the Thameslink line! [Home by 11.43 !]
NEWS FLASH! :- choralstore.com have our newly-published Xmas arrangement, as their work of the week... look here
Luton Music Club are a thriving club meeting on Mondays at Luton's Library Theatre; and we had a great time; beginning in the 12th century with Hildegard of Bingen (Ave generosa); and ending with Billy Joel's Goodnight, My Angel.... and much inbetween - Byrd 4-part Mass, Lambeth Walk etc.!
Our old friend, Richard Sisson [Widow of Kit and the Widow] came, as he is a longtime supporter of the Club, and it was great to see him... and congratulate him on his part in the Comedy Prom! He said he enjoyed himself...
We have a Captain Beaky dance (hah!) rehearsal at the RAH tomorrow morning... so night night!
NEWS FLASH! :- choralstore.com have our newly-published Xmas arrangement, as their work of the week... look here
Luton Music Club are a thriving club meeting on Mondays at Luton's Library Theatre; and we had a great time; beginning in the 12th century with Hildegard of Bingen (Ave generosa); and ending with Billy Joel's Goodnight, My Angel.... and much inbetween - Byrd 4-part Mass, Lambeth Walk etc.!
Our old friend, Richard Sisson [Widow of Kit and the Widow] came, as he is a longtime supporter of the Club, and it was great to see him... and congratulate him on his part in the Comedy Prom! He said he enjoyed himself...
We have a Captain Beaky dance (hah!) rehearsal at the RAH tomorrow morning... so night night!
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
Sheet music download
Our Festival of Carols in Two Minutes is available for download NOW from choralstore.com
- Hooray!
[Some may know the arrangement as 'Carol']
First of many we hope... we are truly published by Edition Peters...
Altogether now....
"Once in... a manger... one silent night......"
- Hooray!
[Some may know the arrangement as 'Carol']
First of many we hope... we are truly published by Edition Peters...
Altogether now....
"Once in... a manger... one silent night......"
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Ah, Vienna
A lovely day and night in Vienna...
We visited the Theatre am Spittelberg, where we will be performing in the Summer next year (great to see it), and it was good to be in the city without it being below freezing!
Voicemania audience were as splendid as ever, and we had a glorious evening... and made sure that they know how to make a cup of tea... [German words by our old friend Rainer Wallraf, with national anthem as tune]...
We were also afforded the pleasure of watching Vocal Tempo, a cuban a cappella group, who won the second series of Spanish X Factor (Factor X !) - they were brilliant! Their instrumental impressions were excellent, and of course... rhythm - perfeccione!
We reminded the good people of the Vienna Cricket Club - oh yes, there is one - and talked of the game and sang our Ins and Outs - Cricket Tea Towel to them... it must have worked, we sold many CDs...
Steve then rushed off to see his wife sing with John Malkovich in New York, as you do!
We visited the Theatre am Spittelberg, where we will be performing in the Summer next year (great to see it), and it was good to be in the city without it being below freezing!
Voicemania audience were as splendid as ever, and we had a glorious evening... and made sure that they know how to make a cup of tea... [German words by our old friend Rainer Wallraf, with national anthem as tune]...
We were also afforded the pleasure of watching Vocal Tempo, a cuban a cappella group, who won the second series of Spanish X Factor (Factor X !) - they were brilliant! Their instrumental impressions were excellent, and of course... rhythm - perfeccione!
We reminded the good people of the Vienna Cricket Club - oh yes, there is one - and talked of the game and sang our Ins and Outs - Cricket Tea Towel to them... it must have worked, we sold many CDs...
Steve then rushed off to see his wife sing with John Malkovich in New York, as you do!
Thursday, 17 November 2011
Voicemania in Vienna
A rare treat - out here a day early so we were able to catch a bit of tonight's Voicemania gig... and we saw the UK group - The Boxettes... very fine; and with the World female beatbox champion, Bellatrix herself, in their midst. The group started at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London in 2007... great to hear them.
Earlyness also allows us to see more of this fair city than we usually do...
Exploration tomorrow, after a good night's sleep.
Might also rehearse for our parts of Captain Beaky at RAH in December, and our Bridewell shows...
Later, we share our gig with Cuban group, Vocal Tempo - groovy!
Night night
Earlyness also allows us to see more of this fair city than we usually do...
Exploration tomorrow, after a good night's sleep.
Might also rehearse for our parts of Captain Beaky at RAH in December, and our Bridewell shows...
Later, we share our gig with Cuban group, Vocal Tempo - groovy!
Night night
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Golden Bridge Awards
Sang tonight in Quaglino's at Green Park, central London, for the BLCC Golden Bridge awards, we know about these via the Anglo-Belgian Club - Thanks to Michel Vanhoonacker for inviting us (once again!). Good to have ex-Swingle, soprano (and Belgian) Ann de Renais introducing us...
Just three small bursts of us amidst much celebration of the strength of commerce between Belgium, Luxembourg and the UK. [BLCC = Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce].
Quaglino's - very splendid; food delightful, as one would expect... we were all surprised it only opened in 1993; the name feels as if it has been around longer than that!
A game of two halves for the audients; quite pathetic lack of joining in in the "rat da dat da dat" in Chanson d'amour, but rousing "OYs!" in The Lambeth Walk...
I know they are all going to go home and order their Xmas copies of Songs of Cricket...
...off to Vienna tomorrow.
Just three small bursts of us amidst much celebration of the strength of commerce between Belgium, Luxembourg and the UK. [BLCC = Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce].
Quaglino's - very splendid; food delightful, as one would expect... we were all surprised it only opened in 1993; the name feels as if it has been around longer than that!
A game of two halves for the audients; quite pathetic lack of joining in in the "rat da dat da dat" in Chanson d'amour, but rousing "OYs!" in The Lambeth Walk...
I know they are all going to go home and order their Xmas copies of Songs of Cricket...
...off to Vienna tomorrow.
Friday, 4 November 2011
CH Recording #2 & Tim Rice bash
We had second successful day at Champs Hill, after a splendid meal and night there (none of us had been to bed so early for years!); Producer Alex served us well again, keeping us on the straight and narrow... & almost all the a cappella stuff is done... Hooray!
Mary & David are such good hosts; I think we may enjoy doing this again...
Then today, we were up bright and early for a sound check at the Dorchester Ballroom, Park Lane, in preparation for being Sir Tim Rice's backing group in our hit, 'Wanderin' Star'... (accompanied on the piano by Chris Hatt). We sang a grace and a couple of cricket songs too...
Lots of money was raised for the Lady Taverners charity in this lunch in celebration of Tim... many famous names gave messages by audio and video, as well as of course, many others being there in person. Rachael Heyhoe-Flint [newly ennobled], Judith Chalmers, a sea of Rices [Tim's two brothers did a great double act & Tim's children gave him a revealing and hilarious quiz (which he passed!)], Jack Rowell, Bella Emberg, Angela Rippon, Tony Lewis, Christopher Martin-Jenkins & Mike Gatting were all there... People were meant to be sardonic and funnily horrid, but TRice being such a nice chap, this never lasted long and all ended up saying what a great friend he is, and all-round jolly fellow!
I had forgotten how central to getting ladies admitted to the MCC he was - Rachael was very moving on the subject.-
Also on the musical bill, a quick recital of oscar-winning hits from Alan Menken (glorious); and duets and solos from Tim Rice & Friends, performed by Emma Munro-Wilson & Lewis Bradley, accompanied by Duncan Waugh.
Messages came from Elaine Page, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elton John, Sir John Major - and the lunch only overran by an hour and ten minutes!
Another life-enhancing event, celebrating a truly Great Britain...
Mary & David are such good hosts; I think we may enjoy doing this again...
Then today, we were up bright and early for a sound check at the Dorchester Ballroom, Park Lane, in preparation for being Sir Tim Rice's backing group in our hit, 'Wanderin' Star'... (accompanied on the piano by Chris Hatt). We sang a grace and a couple of cricket songs too...
Lots of money was raised for the Lady Taverners charity in this lunch in celebration of Tim... many famous names gave messages by audio and video, as well as of course, many others being there in person. Rachael Heyhoe-Flint [newly ennobled], Judith Chalmers, a sea of Rices [Tim's two brothers did a great double act & Tim's children gave him a revealing and hilarious quiz (which he passed!)], Jack Rowell, Bella Emberg, Angela Rippon, Tony Lewis, Christopher Martin-Jenkins & Mike Gatting were all there... People were meant to be sardonic and funnily horrid, but TRice being such a nice chap, this never lasted long and all ended up saying what a great friend he is, and all-round jolly fellow!
I had forgotten how central to getting ladies admitted to the MCC he was - Rachael was very moving on the subject.-
Also on the musical bill, a quick recital of oscar-winning hits from Alan Menken (glorious); and duets and solos from Tim Rice & Friends, performed by Emma Munro-Wilson & Lewis Bradley, accompanied by Duncan Waugh.
Messages came from Elaine Page, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elton John, Sir John Major - and the lunch only overran by an hour and ten minutes!
Another life-enhancing event, celebrating a truly Great Britain...
Thursday, 3 November 2011
Champs Hill Recording #1
Presently at Champs Hill, recording our next album... Songs of Love and War:- doing the a cappella stuff on this sojourn... we will add the tracks with Malcolm Martineau when the great man is free! [Early next year...]
Fantastic room to sing in, atmosphere to record, and of course the surroundings at the Bowerman's... quite lovely... & the board and lodging is very good in this hotel too!
Yum!
The Producer is Alexander Van Ingen, and a fine chap he is... ably assisted by Clare...
One a cappella day down... one to go...
Fantastic room to sing in, atmosphere to record, and of course the surroundings at the Bowerman's... quite lovely... & the board and lodging is very good in this hotel too!
Yum!
The Producer is Alexander Van Ingen, and a fine chap he is... ably assisted by Clare...
One a cappella day down... one to go...
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
Christmas news
There will be more on this anon... but for the moment our Christmas News!
1. Our Festival of Carols in Two Minutes will be available in print SOON... the first of our arrangements to have been published by Edition Peters (hereafter known as "The Management")
2. Our album Christmas with Cantabile - The London Quartet will be available for digital download by the end of the month (or sooner).... WATCH THIS SPACE
3. We have a couple of Christmas Concerts on two Tuesdays in the Bridewell Hall, Bride Lane, Fleet Street (wonderful acoustic)....6.30pm on the 6th and the 13th December....
Good news to all men (and women...)
1. Our Festival of Carols in Two Minutes will be available in print SOON... the first of our arrangements to have been published by Edition Peters (hereafter known as "The Management")
2. Our album Christmas with Cantabile - The London Quartet will be available for digital download by the end of the month (or sooner).... WATCH THIS SPACE
3. We have a couple of Christmas Concerts on two Tuesdays in the Bridewell Hall, Bride Lane, Fleet Street (wonderful acoustic)....6.30pm on the 6th and the 13th December....
Good news to all men (and women...)
Monday, 31 October 2011
UEA Music department closing
Sad news that the University where I studied for my music degree has decided that it 'cannot afford to run the music department anymore'....
UEA is in the beautiful city of Norwich, for those who do not know...
Here's a satirical look at it - (but the subject isn't that funny!).
Benjamin Britten, who helped set up the department will be revolving in his grave...
Ho hum...
UEA is in the beautiful city of Norwich, for those who do not know...
Here's a satirical look at it - (but the subject isn't that funny!).
Benjamin Britten, who helped set up the department will be revolving in his grave...
Ho hum...
Monday, 24 October 2011
Bocholt
Tour done, and minor coughing fits aside, I am a Fleming in Belgium who has one the Phlegm battle!
Another excellent evening accompanied by the redoubtable Paul Plummer. Bowler hats, celeb masks and umbrellas to the fore... we took this small part of north Belgium to Britain... tea, royalty, muddling-through, Elton John, Rice & Lloyd Webber & a cross-dressing lumberjack:- what more could one ask for?
...and our dear friends Gertie & Jolein were there too from The Netherlands... how splendid!
It'll be Christmas next time we are here, but that'll be fun too... we'll dust off the German version of Best of British for January...
Another excellent evening accompanied by the redoubtable Paul Plummer. Bowler hats, celeb masks and umbrellas to the fore... we took this small part of north Belgium to Britain... tea, royalty, muddling-through, Elton John, Rice & Lloyd Webber & a cross-dressing lumberjack:- what more could one ask for?
...and our dear friends Gertie & Jolein were there too from The Netherlands... how splendid!
It'll be Christmas next time we are here, but that'll be fun too... we'll dust off the German version of Best of British for January...
Songs of Cricket
...is now available on:
iTunes
Amazon
or, naturally via US!
Click for Promo video
Good to see Rory has been overtaken by dance in his Strictly sojourn.... he is great on his beeb blog - shame he is out now....
iTunes
Amazon
or, naturally via US!
Click for Promo video
Good to see Rory has been overtaken by dance in his Strictly sojourn.... he is great on his beeb blog - shame he is out now....
Saturday, 22 October 2011
Aalst
Best of British went well to a packed house at Aalst... Our wonderful Belgian agent Thomas Van der Spiegel brought his whole family as they live nearby...
Lovely huge theatre, and friendly and excellent staff... and pre-gig meal in a restaurant that used to be a chapel - De Kapelaan - beautiful both architecturally and nutritionally...
Apart from a 30-second long coughing fit - I managed to obscure a Mike solo - which felt like about 2 hours, everything went well.
Did a very bad impression of HMQ, whilst wearing her face mask, as I stumbled into a chair, thus breaking one of Noel Coward's two golden rules of acting.... know your lines and don't walk into the furniture...
Steve's acres of Flemish, as ever, a great delight... (tho' we all join in a bit!) ...as indeed were his knees during the Lumberjack song...
Great to be back with Herr Paul Plummer on piano; and we have another show together tomorrow at Bocholt...
These last three gigs of this tour said together, with an overgutteral accent & a scowl - Jezus-Eik, Aalst, Bocholt - might give the idea that we are cross, but far from it, we are having a great time over here amongst the Belgae...
Lovely huge theatre, and friendly and excellent staff... and pre-gig meal in a restaurant that used to be a chapel - De Kapelaan - beautiful both architecturally and nutritionally...
Apart from a 30-second long coughing fit - I managed to obscure a Mike solo - which felt like about 2 hours, everything went well.
Did a very bad impression of HMQ, whilst wearing her face mask, as I stumbled into a chair, thus breaking one of Noel Coward's two golden rules of acting.... know your lines and don't walk into the furniture...
Steve's acres of Flemish, as ever, a great delight... (tho' we all join in a bit!) ...as indeed were his knees during the Lumberjack song...
Great to be back with Herr Paul Plummer on piano; and we have another show together tomorrow at Bocholt...
These last three gigs of this tour said together, with an overgutteral accent & a scowl - Jezus-Eik, Aalst, Bocholt - might give the idea that we are cross, but far from it, we are having a great time over here amongst the Belgae...
Friday, 21 October 2011
Bonheiden and Jezus-Eik
Two lovely full gigs in Belgium, performing our Madrigal to McCartney show...
Proof once more that it is a splendid country to visit... all the staff and people around are so friendly, helpful & uncomplicated... and the food is so nice!
And all managed with a nose full of phlegm... thank goodness it is a nose and not a throat... luckily only I am thus afflicted.
Two more in the next two days, giving our Best of British programme.... today in Jezus-Eik [Jesus Oak, btw] we had a rather British time too; it is just down the road from the English school over here.... lots of children [some Flemish speakers and some English] had a concert in the theatre, and we sang at the end of their time... they were delighted to see how silly it is possible to be whilst singing!
As ever, both new and old friends were about... including today someone we worked for last in Germany in 1992; hoping it will be less than 19 years before we meet once more!
We continue to spread Songs of Cricket amongst the unsuspecting Belgians.
Tomorrow we welcome back pianist, Paul Plummer, who now works in Austria; we have not worked with him for many a while... let's hope he has some cold remedy with him; it will be great to see him...
Proof once more that it is a splendid country to visit... all the staff and people around are so friendly, helpful & uncomplicated... and the food is so nice!
And all managed with a nose full of phlegm... thank goodness it is a nose and not a throat... luckily only I am thus afflicted.
Two more in the next two days, giving our Best of British programme.... today in Jezus-Eik [Jesus Oak, btw] we had a rather British time too; it is just down the road from the English school over here.... lots of children [some Flemish speakers and some English] had a concert in the theatre, and we sang at the end of their time... they were delighted to see how silly it is possible to be whilst singing!
As ever, both new and old friends were about... including today someone we worked for last in Germany in 1992; hoping it will be less than 19 years before we meet once more!
We continue to spread Songs of Cricket amongst the unsuspecting Belgians.
Tomorrow we welcome back pianist, Paul Plummer, who now works in Austria; we have not worked with him for many a while... let's hope he has some cold remedy with him; it will be great to see him...
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Classical Rolls Royce!
We are very blessed by our accompanists!
These days for our shows, on piano we have the fantastic Chris Hatt, the worldwide MD of Billy Elliot...
...and soon, because Chris is not free, we have the pleasant delight of working for a couple of Belgian nights with our previous chap, Paul Plummer, who is presently working at the opera house in Innsbruck...
...and now we also have the splendour of working once again with that Rolls Royce of classical accompanists, Malcolm Martineau. We are recording a third album with him, this time under the Champs Hill label - in November for release next year. We had a rehearsal yesterday, and it was as we have come to expect when we work with MM... looking forward to the CD very much.
It is loosely based on the concert we performed together in the Musée d'Orsay, Paris in March...
Songs of Love and Death/War... (to be decided)...
These days for our shows, on piano we have the fantastic Chris Hatt, the worldwide MD of Billy Elliot...
...and soon, because Chris is not free, we have the pleasant delight of working for a couple of Belgian nights with our previous chap, Paul Plummer, who is presently working at the opera house in Innsbruck...
...and now we also have the splendour of working once again with that Rolls Royce of classical accompanists, Malcolm Martineau. We are recording a third album with him, this time under the Champs Hill label - in November for release next year. We had a rehearsal yesterday, and it was as we have come to expect when we work with MM... looking forward to the CD very much.
It is loosely based on the concert we performed together in the Musée d'Orsay, Paris in March...
Songs of Love and Death/War... (to be decided)...
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Urology Foundation
Now there I was thinking we were to sing to lots of Doctors, but in truth, last night at The Savoy, it was mainly only real people there... in support of the fine charity, The Urology Foundation. Some very senior doctors of course, but the event was a fundraiser.
The chairman of the Foundation, Steven Norris introduced us and we sang to the assembled throng; after a sumptuous auction which had clearly raised much for the charity.
...and Ian Hislop and Ronnie Corbett were there too...
Even at the late hour, and after auction exhaustion, people were fabulously attentive...
Not that I was eavesdropping, but earlier I had heard Mr Hislop talking of another beano in a few days' time, to celebrate 50 years of Private Eye - with everyone still alive who ever worked for it, invited... sounds huge fun...
(contd. page 94)
The chairman of the Foundation, Steven Norris introduced us and we sang to the assembled throng; after a sumptuous auction which had clearly raised much for the charity.
...and Ian Hislop and Ronnie Corbett were there too...
Even at the late hour, and after auction exhaustion, people were fabulously attentive...
Not that I was eavesdropping, but earlier I had heard Mr Hislop talking of another beano in a few days' time, to celebrate 50 years of Private Eye - with everyone still alive who ever worked for it, invited... sounds huge fun...
(contd. page 94)
Sunday, 9 October 2011
Bayreuth - die Kirche
Our concert at the Ordenskirche Bayreuth has happened... and we are still alive!
Thrillingly lots of people turned up, some after the church service, others who had seen us last night in die a cappella Nacht - and we gave them an hour of early tunes... Bingen, Byrd, Bennet, Monteverdi, Arbeau, Arcadelt & Weelkes through Rossini, Genée & Sullivan up to Richard Rodney Bennett [no, he's not so early, but the piece we sang is a setting of 17th Century poet, Francis Quarles!]
Wonderful - even more so, having repaired to a typical upper Franconian restaurant for meat and dumplings and lovely dark beer of the region...!
The aeroport beckons...
Splendid... home for a quick day off, then the Savoy on Tuesday night... entertaining at a meeting of Urologists... hope they won't be too probing...
Thrillingly lots of people turned up, some after the church service, others who had seen us last night in die a cappella Nacht - and we gave them an hour of early tunes... Bingen, Byrd, Bennet, Monteverdi, Arbeau, Arcadelt & Weelkes through Rossini, Genée & Sullivan up to Richard Rodney Bennett [no, he's not so early, but the piece we sang is a setting of 17th Century poet, Francis Quarles!]
Wonderful - even more so, having repaired to a typical upper Franconian restaurant for meat and dumplings and lovely dark beer of the region...!
The aeroport beckons...
Splendid... home for a quick day off, then the Savoy on Tuesday night... entertaining at a meeting of Urologists... hope they won't be too probing...
Bayreuth
No Wagnerian gestures onstage tonight, just Medlz and us once more, but tonight joined by Six Pack - we realise it is even longer since we saw these guys... 7 years... they were cool and fun as ever... and they all became 7-pack when their old bass, Peter Martin Jacob, joined them for a rendition of Ring of Fire...
All marvellous - and the audience were, if anything, even more enthusiastic than last night...
A morning concert in the church beckons... at 11am... tra la la la la....
All marvellous - and the audience were, if anything, even more enthusiastic than last night...
A morning concert in the church beckons... at 11am... tra la la la la....
Saturday, 8 October 2011
Biberach
Marvellous 'Die a cappella Nacht' in Biberach... for the uninitiated, this is not an a cappella evening which makes you die... but one in Germany, thus with an article... designed and promoted by our German agent, Peter Martin Jacob and his agency, Magenta...
Two groups were with us - our old friends from this circuit, the Dresden group, Medlz - they have lost their definite article since we last worked with them in 2007... we were all amazed that it was four years ago that we last met... they looked remarkably similar; although there is a new one of them! Lydia has an 11-month old daughter... but Bine, Lydia, Silli, Mary and Nelly were as wonderful as ever [if not better!] - fantastic tuning...
...and some new friends, muSix from Berlin... a great group of er... five, who were splendid and polished too...
In fact this is a bit of a theme of the evening, Medlz started as a nine-part group, and muSix as a six-part; clearly they both decided five was best after all... & both groups met whilst singing together in children's choirs... that's why they still seem so young!
A very fine evening for all of us onstage, and by the sound of it, the audience too...
...snuck a few more Cricket CDs out too... to Germans!!
On to Bayreuth tomorrow with Medlz... and a mystery someone else...
Two groups were with us - our old friends from this circuit, the Dresden group, Medlz - they have lost their definite article since we last worked with them in 2007... we were all amazed that it was four years ago that we last met... they looked remarkably similar; although there is a new one of them! Lydia has an 11-month old daughter... but Bine, Lydia, Silli, Mary and Nelly were as wonderful as ever [if not better!] - fantastic tuning...
...and some new friends, muSix from Berlin... a great group of er... five, who were splendid and polished too...
In fact this is a bit of a theme of the evening, Medlz started as a nine-part group, and muSix as a six-part; clearly they both decided five was best after all... & both groups met whilst singing together in children's choirs... that's why they still seem so young!
A very fine evening for all of us onstage, and by the sound of it, the audience too...
...snuck a few more Cricket CDs out too... to Germans!!
On to Bayreuth tomorrow with Medlz... and a mystery someone else...
Thursday, 6 October 2011
Leuven
Another fantastic evening at the Lemmensinstituut at Leuven.... where Steve studied when a boy... he mentioned being an alumnus on stage, and when he chatted with some of the students afterwards, he saw them realise just how really old he was... it happens to us all!
Best of British (Belgium) went splendidly well, and the amount of noise the audience made [at appropriate moments] was sometimes deafening...
The mountie hats were an excellent addition to Steve's knees in The Lumberjack Song - splendid...
And we sold more Songs of Cricket - this could be the start of something very big!
International train journey to Biberach, Germany tomorrow for an a cappella nacht - more news tomorrow...
Best of British (Belgium) went splendidly well, and the amount of noise the audience made [at appropriate moments] was sometimes deafening...
The mountie hats were an excellent addition to Steve's knees in The Lumberjack Song - splendid...
And we sold more Songs of Cricket - this could be the start of something very big!
International train journey to Biberach, Germany tomorrow for an a cappella nacht - more news tomorrow...
Breast Cancer Care show
Attended a wonderful, life-enhancing event at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane this afternoon... a fashion parade of cancer survivors being the centre-piece of a day in aid of the Breast Cancer Care charity
Highly moving, of course, and everyone with such a positive outlook, as they share their stories of Breast Cancer... a disease that affects so many people each year; 50,000 new diagnoses in the UK alone.
We were treated like long-lost friends, and all were delighted that we were there to sing... and they were indeed pretty good at joining in with The Lambeth Walk!
But clearly, we were a side-show:- there is marvellous up-lifting spirit in this charity's heart...
Highly moving, of course, and everyone with such a positive outlook, as they share their stories of Breast Cancer... a disease that affects so many people each year; 50,000 new diagnoses in the UK alone.
We were treated like long-lost friends, and all were delighted that we were there to sing... and they were indeed pretty good at joining in with The Lambeth Walk!
But clearly, we were a side-show:- there is marvellous up-lifting spirit in this charity's heart...
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
Kortrijk
Wonderful theatre, and excellent audience to watch Best of British - and now for something completely different première...
Joined by trusty Chris Hatt, and with brolleys and bowlers, we showed them a thing or two, eh what!?
Off to Leuven tomorrow to do it again... with added mountie hats... [any ideas why we need them?]
More cricket CDs have been spread amongst the unsuspecting mainland Europeans...
Joined by trusty Chris Hatt, and with brolleys and bowlers, we showed them a thing or two, eh what!?
Off to Leuven tomorrow to do it again... with added mountie hats... [any ideas why we need them?]
More cricket CDs have been spread amongst the unsuspecting mainland Europeans...
Sunday, 2 October 2011
Herent
Another balmy night in Europe last night... excellent audience at Herent in Belgium; just a few miles from Steve's hometown... many were, however, surprised when he revealed his citizenship, and just how near he had grown up.
The bells of the church [striking every hour and urging people to services from 8am] were very forthright in our hotel 15 metres from the church door... not quite up to Swiss standards however, as it was only the one church!
First night of 'Best of British - and now for something completely different' tonight in Kortrijk, before the première in Leuven on Thursday... looking forward to it - and gloriously Chris Hatt has arrived off the Eurostar.... and we'll all be home this evening as tonight's show is at 5pm...
What a small world we live in...
The bells of the church [striking every hour and urging people to services from 8am] were very forthright in our hotel 15 metres from the church door... not quite up to Swiss standards however, as it was only the one church!
First night of 'Best of British - and now for something completely different' tonight in Kortrijk, before the première in Leuven on Thursday... looking forward to it - and gloriously Chris Hatt has arrived off the Eurostar.... and we'll all be home this evening as tonight's show is at 5pm...
What a small world we live in...
Saturday, 1 October 2011
Zurich
Wonderful evening in an unusually balmy late September Zurich...
Singing at a restaurant after the opening of Marco Perego's new exhibition at Galerie Gmursynska
... it just goes to show what a footballer can do after his career [I am being serious - look him up! Slight warning, he is explicit and courts controversy with his views on the way society 'devours itself'...]
We have now been entertaining for Krystyna and her Gallery for well over 20 years, and this night was even graced by UK royalty... tho' of course I cannot tell you whom... She and her friends were suitably gracious about our contribution to the evening...
Now in (still summery-hot) Herent, BE awaiting the next concert; must admit to being grateful for our schedule, as it meant I was saved watching England struggle their way to a limping victory over Scotland in the Rugby WC - much better to be in mid-air...
Singing at a restaurant after the opening of Marco Perego's new exhibition at Galerie Gmursynska
... it just goes to show what a footballer can do after his career [I am being serious - look him up! Slight warning, he is explicit and courts controversy with his views on the way society 'devours itself'...]
We have now been entertaining for Krystyna and her Gallery for well over 20 years, and this night was even graced by UK royalty... tho' of course I cannot tell you whom... She and her friends were suitably gracious about our contribution to the evening...
Now in (still summery-hot) Herent, BE awaiting the next concert; must admit to being grateful for our schedule, as it meant I was saved watching England struggle their way to a limping victory over Scotland in the Rugby WC - much better to be in mid-air...
Thursday, 29 September 2011
Galerie Gmurzynska
Just off to Galerie Gmurzynska, to help open the Secrets exhibition of work by Marco Perego
Lucky we were free when rung this lunchtime!
Off to Belgium for the rest of the weekend; Herent and Kortrijk - home on Sunday evening...
Best of British (Belgian) première will soon have come and gone...
Lucky we were free when rung this lunchtime!
Off to Belgium for the rest of the weekend; Herent and Kortrijk - home on Sunday evening...
Best of British (Belgian) première will soon have come and gone...
Sunday, 18 September 2011
Tunbridge Wells
Just taking a break from watching England as Rugby team - well they seemed to be so for about 20% of the time anyway - to mention our excellent night on Friday in Tunbridge Wells.
Singing as part of the Music at King Charles series, we had a full church of Tunbridge Wellsians, and none seemed disgusted...
We gave them a glimpse of our Best of British programme... which we will take to Belgium and Germany in the coming months (altho' we spoke and sang in English!).
At one of the homes of Kent CCC, there were many enthusiastic faces as we mentioned cricket and sang some songs from the album, ably accompanied as ever, by Chris Hatt.
Thanks to our old friend, Rupert Preston-Bell and his family, and to their collaborators The Tunbridge Wells International Festival for making this evening, and so many others, a success.
But Georgia on My Mind still... for the next 40 minutes...
Singing as part of the Music at King Charles series, we had a full church of Tunbridge Wellsians, and none seemed disgusted...
We gave them a glimpse of our Best of British programme... which we will take to Belgium and Germany in the coming months (altho' we spoke and sang in English!).
At one of the homes of Kent CCC, there were many enthusiastic faces as we mentioned cricket and sang some songs from the album, ably accompanied as ever, by Chris Hatt.
Thanks to our old friend, Rupert Preston-Bell and his family, and to their collaborators The Tunbridge Wells International Festival for making this evening, and so many others, a success.
But Georgia on My Mind still... for the next 40 minutes...
Friday, 16 September 2011
Cricket online interview
Songs of Cricket interview on cricketworld.com
Listen all about it - you have to search quite hard on the site to get to the above, but hoping some will find it!
Looking forward to more sales at one of the homes of Kent CCC tonight... Tunbridge Wells.
Listen all about it - you have to search quite hard on the site to get to the above, but hoping some will find it!
Looking forward to more sales at one of the homes of Kent CCC tonight... Tunbridge Wells.
Sunday, 11 September 2011
4th Bridewell Night
So, they are all done - a wonderful run - there was some talk of getting us back to The Bridewell [somewhere in the building, at least!] for a Christmas show.... we shall say as soon as we find we can squeeze this in...
Lovely venue, and splendid support from so many...
Roll on the next one....
Tunbridge Wells next Friday!
Lovely venue, and splendid support from so many...
Roll on the next one....
Tunbridge Wells next Friday!
Saturday, 10 September 2011
2nd & 3rd Bridewell Nights
Well, what to say - each night better than the next - a sea of friends, old and new coming to visit, and the support we get from The Bridewell Institute is wonderful...
One old friend was Neil Pearson - great to see him again; we sang a cricket song, Neil Hannon & Thomas Walsh's Jiggery Pokery, which tells the story of that ball to Mike Gatting bowled by Shane Warne in 1993.... Neil said he was filming (Between the Lines, I reckon) at Old Trafford at that very moment; and thus his reaction to the amazing right-angled delivery was caught on film...they could not help but react... 'cut!' - must be in the BBC vaults somewhere... or perhaps on the cutting room floor (I realise this is a very ancient concept in these digital times...)
Yet more members of my family came... this is once more a delight... hoping this becomes an annual Festive week for us in early September... 2 years and counting...
One old friend was Neil Pearson - great to see him again; we sang a cricket song, Neil Hannon & Thomas Walsh's Jiggery Pokery, which tells the story of that ball to Mike Gatting bowled by Shane Warne in 1993.... Neil said he was filming (Between the Lines, I reckon) at Old Trafford at that very moment; and thus his reaction to the amazing right-angled delivery was caught on film...they could not help but react... 'cut!' - must be in the BBC vaults somewhere... or perhaps on the cutting room floor (I realise this is a very ancient concept in these digital times...)
Yet more members of my family came... this is once more a delight... hoping this becomes an annual Festive week for us in early September... 2 years and counting...
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
1st Bridewell night
As much as anything, this evening was excellent because so many of my wider family had decided to show up tonight.. without my knowing beforehand... including my fabulously talented cousin Andy Fleming (vocalist - impressionist)... we have not been in the same place for years! Glorious.
...and all went well; quite a few Cricket Songs sung to an unsuspecting audience, and the CDs were popular too. A great beginning to our run, and looking forward to the next three nights...
...and all went well; quite a few Cricket Songs sung to an unsuspecting audience, and the CDs were popular too. A great beginning to our run, and looking forward to the next three nights...
Friday, 2 September 2011
Bridewell rehearsal
Final rehearsals for our Bridewell shows at the end of next week...
Our Postcard from Home will be as varied as usual... and of course, Songs of Cricket will be there too - both live and recorded! Monty Python, Jake Thackray, Noel Coward, The Beatles, Flanders and Swann, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber - just some of the people who will 'partake' in our evenings...
Very exciting... tech stuff over the weekend and then we are in from Monday... shows: Weds.-Sat. at 7pm.
Might we see you there...?
Our Postcard from Home will be as varied as usual... and of course, Songs of Cricket will be there too - both live and recorded! Monty Python, Jake Thackray, Noel Coward, The Beatles, Flanders and Swann, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber - just some of the people who will 'partake' in our evenings...
Very exciting... tech stuff over the weekend and then we are in from Monday... shows: Weds.-Sat. at 7pm.
Might we see you there...?
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
Barry Cryer
We met this great man to discuss his helping us compile a programme of comedy songs so as to tour theatres in the UK....
Wonderful to sit and chat with him; luckily for us, not only is he hilarious, but also has a pretty encyclopaedic memory.... and over the years he wrote for everyone! [Altho' in his modest way, he is at pains to say that he is not the only one, everyone wrote for everyone in the 50s - 90s.... he just gets longevity kudos!]
Now for a title....
Wonderful to sit and chat with him; luckily for us, not only is he hilarious, but also has a pretty encyclopaedic memory.... and over the years he wrote for everyone! [Altho' in his modest way, he is at pains to say that he is not the only one, everyone wrote for everyone in the 50s - 90s.... he just gets longevity kudos!]
Now for a title....
Saturday, 27 August 2011
Altafulla
Great evening in Church Square, Altafulla... a perfect acoustic with the stage set up in the corner; our voices bouncing off the walls.
The audience are well used to a great range of music for their Festival as David van Asch has given them lots of treats as Festival Director. Having had a few years off, he is back this year, and the vocal music came back...
A French choir gave a programme of Francis Poulenc and Eric Whitacre last month and much else besides - and then there was us...
Everyone seemed jolly about our speaking to them in Catalan [es mol bé], and the promised storm and wind stayed in Barcelona, and did not bother us during our gig.
The man in charge of Culture from the Town Hall was also happy - which was nice!
...and once more we sold Cricket CDs to an unsuspecting country!
The post-concert refreshments at Faristol [Music stand in Catalan] were very Spanish, and thus splendid...
The audience are well used to a great range of music for their Festival as David van Asch has given them lots of treats as Festival Director. Having had a few years off, he is back this year, and the vocal music came back...
A French choir gave a programme of Francis Poulenc and Eric Whitacre last month and much else besides - and then there was us...
Everyone seemed jolly about our speaking to them in Catalan [es mol bé], and the promised storm and wind stayed in Barcelona, and did not bother us during our gig.
The man in charge of Culture from the Town Hall was also happy - which was nice!
...and once more we sold Cricket CDs to an unsuspecting country!
The post-concert refreshments at Faristol [Music stand in Catalan] were very Spanish, and thus splendid...
Thursday, 25 August 2011
David van Asch
A lovely evening chez van Asch - their home is near Altafulla...
David and Margarita showed us their glorious house, and we ate our fill.... & a wonderful local butcher they must have...
David van Asch is of course a stalwart of The Scholars - thus steeped in vocal ensemble singing... and he has lived in Spain since meeting Margarita in the 1970s.
Our concert tomorrow is in the village square, just by the castle at 10pm... weather permitting...
... lunch on the seafront also beckons...
David and Margarita showed us their glorious house, and we ate our fill.... & a wonderful local butcher they must have...
David van Asch is of course a stalwart of The Scholars - thus steeped in vocal ensemble singing... and he has lived in Spain since meeting Margarita in the 1970s.
Our concert tomorrow is in the village square, just by the castle at 10pm... weather permitting...
... lunch on the seafront also beckons...
Monday, 22 August 2011
Val-d'Or show
Fantastic evening at a fantastic Festival (Festival classique de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue - artistic director: Donald Ferland).
There were speeches galore every evening! Donald spoke of course, but we also heard from Raymond Cloutier, Actor & Director of the Conservatoire of Dramatic Art, Montréál, who is Honorary President of the Festival, as well as Marie St-Germain (President of same) & Jean St-Jules, Director of the Conservatoire of Music in Val-d'Or...
This is all taken very seriously; and it shows -the attention to detail is splendid, and the Festival atmosphere compelling...
We were very well looked after at our hotel - Auberge Harricana - Martin, Marie-Annick and their family were terrific (wonderful children), also Mary Lou ran errands for us tirelessly...
Three evening shows and lots of smaller concerts throughout a busy three days up here in Val-d'Or...
There was firstly Les Boréades, a baroque ensemble who have been doing The Beatles in this style for a few years now... amazing...
Then there was Marie-Josée Lord - a phenomenal Opera singer, accompanied beautifully by violin and piano...
All the evening acts share our Canadian agent - L'Agence Station Bleue - a good weekend for them too!
The audience were brimming over with excitement for all the concerts, and it took us a long time to exit the building... more CDs sold... once more - including selling out of cricket ones! One gets the impression from Cricket Canada's site that the francophones aren't quite so hot on this sport, but who knows in the future.... & I see we have beaten India by an innings again... what larks... [We did get a CD to the great Sachin Tendulkar, I do hope he does not take his non-century frustration out on it!]
And a great new idea... all involved were given a painting to take home (and we all fitted our individual ones in our cases) - created by local artist Lee Lovsin... cool!
...and here we are back at Montréal, awaiting our connection, so as to get home... just in time for a lie down, then Spain at the end of the week...
There were speeches galore every evening! Donald spoke of course, but we also heard from Raymond Cloutier, Actor & Director of the Conservatoire of Dramatic Art, Montréál, who is Honorary President of the Festival, as well as Marie St-Germain (President of same) & Jean St-Jules, Director of the Conservatoire of Music in Val-d'Or...
This is all taken very seriously; and it shows -the attention to detail is splendid, and the Festival atmosphere compelling...
We were very well looked after at our hotel - Auberge Harricana - Martin, Marie-Annick and their family were terrific (wonderful children), also Mary Lou ran errands for us tirelessly...
Three evening shows and lots of smaller concerts throughout a busy three days up here in Val-d'Or...
There was firstly Les Boréades, a baroque ensemble who have been doing The Beatles in this style for a few years now... amazing...
Then there was Marie-Josée Lord - a phenomenal Opera singer, accompanied beautifully by violin and piano...
All the evening acts share our Canadian agent - L'Agence Station Bleue - a good weekend for them too!
The audience were brimming over with excitement for all the concerts, and it took us a long time to exit the building... more CDs sold... once more - including selling out of cricket ones! One gets the impression from Cricket Canada's site that the francophones aren't quite so hot on this sport, but who knows in the future.... & I see we have beaten India by an innings again... what larks... [We did get a CD to the great Sachin Tendulkar, I do hope he does not take his non-century frustration out on it!]
And a great new idea... all involved were given a painting to take home (and we all fitted our individual ones in our cases) - created by local artist Lee Lovsin... cool!
...and here we are back at Montréal, awaiting our connection, so as to get home... just in time for a lie down, then Spain at the end of the week...
Sunday, 21 August 2011
Thursday, 18 August 2011
Greenfield Park, QC
Despite its name, the lingua franca here is French...
People dutifully turned out with their own chairs, and filled the space in front of the stage... and to the sides, and a bit behind it too!
Delighted that David, one of High-Shop, another vocal quartet, from Trois-Rivières, turned up too with friends...
An hour-and-a-quarter of fun for all the family - there was dancing from one lady... she seemed especially animated during Foresters Sound the Cheerful Horn by Henry Rowley Bishop, altho' we did perform plenty of genuine pop tunes to dance to...
....and as it was an early start, we were back in Montréal before 10pm.
Marvellous...
People dutifully turned out with their own chairs, and filled the space in front of the stage... and to the sides, and a bit behind it too!
Delighted that David, one of High-Shop, another vocal quartet, from Trois-Rivières, turned up too with friends...
An hour-and-a-quarter of fun for all the family - there was dancing from one lady... she seemed especially animated during Foresters Sound the Cheerful Horn by Henry Rowley Bishop, altho' we did perform plenty of genuine pop tunes to dance to...
....and as it was an early start, we were back in Montréal before 10pm.
Marvellous...
Monday, 15 August 2011
Green Gables - PEI
We arrive in Anne of Green Gables country... on Prince Edward Island.
Richard dutifully read the book on the way here, and our concert was just down the road from Green Gables at Indian River (altho' the book is fiction, it was set around here).
We performed in the same church in 2008, tho' since then the building has been purchased by the Festival and is a permanent concert hall - the audience were fantastically enthusiastic from the off, and once again amazingly purchased a goodly amount of CDs on CRICKET!
Friends of ours, Richard's cousin and his wife - David and Eileen - attended, which was a great blessing, Eileen having had a massive reunion with the PEI end of her family, the day before... Oh and we're just off to lunch with them...
Flights back to Montréal later today...
Richard dutifully read the book on the way here, and our concert was just down the road from Green Gables at Indian River (altho' the book is fiction, it was set around here).
We performed in the same church in 2008, tho' since then the building has been purchased by the Festival and is a permanent concert hall - the audience were fantastically enthusiastic from the off, and once again amazingly purchased a goodly amount of CDs on CRICKET!
Friends of ours, Richard's cousin and his wife - David and Eileen - attended, which was a great blessing, Eileen having had a massive reunion with the PEI end of her family, the day before... Oh and we're just off to lunch with them...
Flights back to Montréal later today...
Sunday, 14 August 2011
Domaine Forget, QC
This double rainbow greeted us as we entered St Irénée, QC for our return trip to Domaine Forget - setting for the Festival & a wonderful place for music courses with the excellent Francoys-Bernier Concert Hall... & views of the St Lawrence river and surrounding beauty...
The audience were also delighted with us, and we with them... as ever, as well as our normal stuff, the Québecois Lionel Daunais' La Toutière went down very well. We also sold some Cricket CDs over here, would you believe it!? It must be because we are now the number one test-playing nation in the world!
A bit early here at Québec aeroport [flight at 6am!]... getting to PEI for our concert tonight...
...more later...
Friday, 12 August 2011
Canada here we come...
Following in William & Kate's footsteps, we are flying out to Québec City tomorrow for concerts in Québec and also Prince Edward Island....
I am sure we will receive as warm a welcome!
I will report back, eh?...
I am sure we will receive as warm a welcome!
I will report back, eh?...
Sunday, 7 August 2011
2nd Taj weekend
Hooray - weather better [apart from a dodgy 15 minutes of rain yesterday]....
... and all went well.
Andy Massey joined us on piano from his usual berth at Lion King on the Friday, and Chris Hatt was back with us Saturday having safely showed his sister the way up the chancel the day before...
...his sister and brother-in-law somehow thought that watching us was a great way to celebrate their second day of married life... how lovely of them...
Talking of pianists, Gerard Kenny, who we had met at the Alan Jay Lerner memorial do a few weeks back, came with his wife Jenny to see us... fantastic; not only great to have him in our midst just because, but also they are such splendid enthusiastic people... a boon to any evening.
So our open-air courtyard evenings at the Taj this summer are done... lots of new West End repertoire learnt and many plugs for our new CD emoted...
We found that the best acoustic was to stand in the balcony bar and sing down into the courtyard; quite Elizabethan, but Chris told us that unmiked we filled the whole place and all surrounding buildings with noise... Let's see what they say when we suggest it next time...
Off to Québec on Thursday...
... and all went well.
Andy Massey joined us on piano from his usual berth at Lion King on the Friday, and Chris Hatt was back with us Saturday having safely showed his sister the way up the chancel the day before...
...his sister and brother-in-law somehow thought that watching us was a great way to celebrate their second day of married life... how lovely of them...
Talking of pianists, Gerard Kenny, who we had met at the Alan Jay Lerner memorial do a few weeks back, came with his wife Jenny to see us... fantastic; not only great to have him in our midst just because, but also they are such splendid enthusiastic people... a boon to any evening.
So our open-air courtyard evenings at the Taj this summer are done... lots of new West End repertoire learnt and many plugs for our new CD emoted...
We found that the best acoustic was to stand in the balcony bar and sing down into the courtyard; quite Elizabethan, but Chris told us that unmiked we filled the whole place and all surrounding buildings with noise... Let's see what they say when we suggest it next time...
Off to Québec on Thursday...
Monday, 25 July 2011
Sunday, 24 July 2011
High Sheriff and Sheriffina
Lovely evening in a marquee at Bignor Roman Villa, Sussex
The new High Sheriff of Sussex, David Tupper and his wife Hilary continued their celebrations of his Office, with a dinner for their friends...
The venue has significance as it was a Tupper ancestor, George Tupper in 1811 who discovered the remains here. It is also one of the richest finds in the country; a very posh old farm and house indeed.
Lots of Sussex airs were heard; The High Sheriff of Sussex's March, Sussex by the Sea and by request... Old MacDonald's Farm - an old TLQ piece which the Sheriffina had caught on youtube
Everyone joined in with Sussex by the Sea, and naturally, in The Lambeth Walk...
Also we were able to show the public our new Cricket CD, as we had received the first copies just that day...
A great way to start our summer hols... tho' the second Taj weekend, a tour to Canada and a trip to Spain beckon in August.
The new High Sheriff of Sussex, David Tupper and his wife Hilary continued their celebrations of his Office, with a dinner for their friends...
The venue has significance as it was a Tupper ancestor, George Tupper in 1811 who discovered the remains here. It is also one of the richest finds in the country; a very posh old farm and house indeed.
Lots of Sussex airs were heard; The High Sheriff of Sussex's March, Sussex by the Sea and by request... Old MacDonald's Farm - an old TLQ piece which the Sheriffina had caught on youtube
Everyone joined in with Sussex by the Sea, and naturally, in The Lambeth Walk...
Also we were able to show the public our new Cricket CD, as we had received the first copies just that day...
A great way to start our summer hols... tho' the second Taj weekend, a tour to Canada and a trip to Spain beckon in August.
Tuesday, 19 July 2011
5 Gents & a Lady in Ghent
Let me take some time out from watching the unravelling of the Metropolitan Police and the demise of News International to tell you of...
Ah, the delights of open air concerts in the Summer.... altho' supposedly it never rains during Gentse Feesten - when the squares of Ghent in Belgium are alive with music for some sunny Summer days...
...on Saturday, it was British Night; and our tireless Belgian agent, Thomas Van der Spiegel had both us and the ever-pink Rosie Ashe involved... all of us accompanied by also tireless Paul Knight [he of the long evening...] TLQ went first for our hour plus, then Rosie followed up with hers...
The rain was on-off-on-off as it has remained here and will continue all week, which hampered our sound checks and made it difficult for the audience, who unlike us, were not covered from the rain, in the main. There was belgian beer on hand to help the inner health, but being wet inside and out does not help being an audient.... amazingly many stayed to watch us all... [and also, the rain did in the end stop!]
British Night was a great success, and there's review to prove it [if you can speak Flemish!]... a great shame it was not quite the glorious summer night in a wonderful old city that was hoped for... but the hardy Gentmen and Gentwomen made the evening a lovely splendour.
Belgian beer [and wine and Cava too] were taken by all; as was the terrific Eurostar there and back...
Ah, the delights of open air concerts in the Summer.... altho' supposedly it never rains during Gentse Feesten - when the squares of Ghent in Belgium are alive with music for some sunny Summer days...
...on Saturday, it was British Night; and our tireless Belgian agent, Thomas Van der Spiegel had both us and the ever-pink Rosie Ashe involved... all of us accompanied by also tireless Paul Knight [he of the long evening...] TLQ went first for our hour plus, then Rosie followed up with hers...
The rain was on-off-on-off as it has remained here and will continue all week, which hampered our sound checks and made it difficult for the audience, who unlike us, were not covered from the rain, in the main. There was belgian beer on hand to help the inner health, but being wet inside and out does not help being an audient.... amazingly many stayed to watch us all... [and also, the rain did in the end stop!]
British Night was a great success, and there's review to prove it [if you can speak Flemish!]... a great shame it was not quite the glorious summer night in a wonderful old city that was hoped for... but the hardy Gentmen and Gentwomen made the evening a lovely splendour.
Belgian beer [and wine and Cava too] were taken by all; as was the terrific Eurostar there and back...
Monday, 18 July 2011
Two Surprises
Called to Oxford on Saturday for a quickie.... in the delightful surroundings of Quod Brasserie and Bar, we sang for a famous friend of ours - offspring of whom had just graduated...
Young and old, everyone was very happy to have their meal interrupted by us!
...and when were we asked about this?
Well, obviously, 5pm on the day itself...
We were lucky the weather was a bit changeable, otherwise we all might have been out on a fine summer Saturday evening... but as it was we were sheltering from the rain, and thus able to answer our phones and get to a different city.
...and all home late on the same day... well, the latest by 12.25am... cool!
...and whilst walking along the road to the restaurant, we bumped into someone else who was there in the city (for a friend's wedding), Rupert Preston-Bell and his wife Caroline... what a ridiculous serendipity that was! We will be performing at King Charles the Martyr, Tunbridge Wells for them on September 16th this year... Hope the weather stays nice for that one...
Young and old, everyone was very happy to have their meal interrupted by us!
...and when were we asked about this?
Well, obviously, 5pm on the day itself...
We were lucky the weather was a bit changeable, otherwise we all might have been out on a fine summer Saturday evening... but as it was we were sheltering from the rain, and thus able to answer our phones and get to a different city.
...and all home late on the same day... well, the latest by 12.25am... cool!
...and whilst walking along the road to the restaurant, we bumped into someone else who was there in the city (for a friend's wedding), Rupert Preston-Bell and his wife Caroline... what a ridiculous serendipity that was! We will be performing at King Charles the Martyr, Tunbridge Wells for them on September 16th this year... Hope the weather stays nice for that one...
Sunday, 10 July 2011
1st Taj weekend
Two lovely nights at The Taj, 51 Buckingham Gate.... only a few minutes from my house - hoorah.
We sang songs from the West End and Broadway in their open-air courtyard... and it did not rain... a minor miracle surely!
Accompanied splendidly by Chris Hatt [only a few metres from his usual Billy Elliot pit], we had an excellent couple of evenings, and the guests at the Taj were gloriously on for a good time.
Felt a bit sorry for the people in the restaurant opposite us in the courtyard, as they could not hear us behind their plate glass walls, and as there was a private function each night, the doors could not be opened.... ah well, this at least absolutely ensured that they felt they were missing something, rather than having any chance of dashing their hopes!
Excellent to sing a few pieces we have not done in a while... our West Side Story medley, lots from our David Cullen album Music of the Night and some Guys and Dolls... as well as, for the first time since Musée d'Orsay (!)... Flash Bang Wallop - only with totally English lyrics this time!!
We will do this all again on the 5th and 6th August... what fun!
We sang songs from the West End and Broadway in their open-air courtyard... and it did not rain... a minor miracle surely!
Accompanied splendidly by Chris Hatt [only a few metres from his usual Billy Elliot pit], we had an excellent couple of evenings, and the guests at the Taj were gloriously on for a good time.
Felt a bit sorry for the people in the restaurant opposite us in the courtyard, as they could not hear us behind their plate glass walls, and as there was a private function each night, the doors could not be opened.... ah well, this at least absolutely ensured that they felt they were missing something, rather than having any chance of dashing their hopes!
Excellent to sing a few pieces we have not done in a while... our West Side Story medley, lots from our David Cullen album Music of the Night and some Guys and Dolls... as well as, for the first time since Musée d'Orsay (!)... Flash Bang Wallop - only with totally English lyrics this time!!
We will do this all again on the 5th and 6th August... what fun!
Thursday, 30 June 2011
There is a Paradise...
We began our evening of The Best of British as part of the Chichester Festivities with Robert Pearsall's There is a Paradise on Earth - a perfect description of Champs Hill where we performed to a packed house.
Accompanied with his usual poise by Chris Hatt, we went through many British institutions - Shakespeare, G & S, Noel Coward, Edward Lear, Elton John, Rice & Lloyd-Webber, Peter Warlock, The Beatles, The Weather, The Underground, The Pre-Raphaelites and of course, Cricket...
Excellent to be part of the Chichester Fest again, and to be in The Music Room at Champs Hill in the West Sussex countryside was splendid.... we have performed here before only at private parties... we look forward to being here more [in fact, another dinner next month beckons!]
The Music Room also houses part of a wonderful art collection... an all-round artistic experience.
Accompanied with his usual poise by Chris Hatt, we went through many British institutions - Shakespeare, G & S, Noel Coward, Edward Lear, Elton John, Rice & Lloyd-Webber, Peter Warlock, The Beatles, The Weather, The Underground, The Pre-Raphaelites and of course, Cricket...
Excellent to be part of the Chichester Fest again, and to be in The Music Room at Champs Hill in the West Sussex countryside was splendid.... we have performed here before only at private parties... we look forward to being here more [in fact, another dinner next month beckons!]
The Music Room also houses part of a wonderful art collection... an all-round artistic experience.
Monday, 27 June 2011
Thorndike Arts Centre, Rochester
Excellent to be part of an artistic flourishing in Kent; Rochester Grammar School has created the Dame Sybil Thorndike Arts Centre within its grounds and set about making it a viable artistic and commercial concern. All power to Richard et al; their elbows and all other sharp points. These will require to keep it wonderful is this current climate.
However, no casue for concern for the first two events - both sell-outs; firstly The James Taylor Quartet [how splendid], and then us...
Also performing before our concert was the girls' choir NChant, excellently led by Choral Director, Carolynn Woodman... Rochester GS is that very rare thing, a secondary school specialising in music... and the girls showed how delighted they are to have an excellent Arts Centre in which to perform.
There are many other choirs, and instrumental opportunities at the school and further afield in Kent... great to see local youth music having such strength in depth.
The members of Nchant were lovely enough to enjoy our pearls of wisdom to them in a quick workshop/performance in the afternoon; however it is clear that Carolynn trains them excellently...
A glorious vocal evening for the good people of Rochester...[& I was back in my house by 11.50pm]... we wish the Arts Centre every success...
However, no casue for concern for the first two events - both sell-outs; firstly The James Taylor Quartet [how splendid], and then us...
Also performing before our concert was the girls' choir NChant, excellently led by Choral Director, Carolynn Woodman... Rochester GS is that very rare thing, a secondary school specialising in music... and the girls showed how delighted they are to have an excellent Arts Centre in which to perform.
There are many other choirs, and instrumental opportunities at the school and further afield in Kent... great to see local youth music having such strength in depth.
The members of Nchant were lovely enough to enjoy our pearls of wisdom to them in a quick workshop/performance in the afternoon; however it is clear that Carolynn trains them excellently...
A glorious vocal evening for the good people of Rochester...[& I was back in my house by 11.50pm]... we wish the Arts Centre every success...
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
Taj - press night
A wonderful evening at the Taj, 51 Buckingham Gate....
Despite the rain the press were royally entertained by three acts... all providing music for the summer season at this gorgeous hotel.
Last Friday, the rain drove us inside, later in the summer we will be in the courtyard in the open air.... which will be splendid!
The concerts were started last year, and should be excellent.
On 8th & 9th July and 5th & 6th August we will be performing songs from classic West End and Broadway musicals.
Soprano Bella and Viva Live Music will have four nights too...
On this night, each act did a small bit, and also had a guest young singer called Jack, who showed his Bublé-esque credentials at the age of fifteen!
Let's hope the weather is more favourable for us all over the next few months...
Now, back to learning German words and music for Saturday in Stuttgart...
PS: Cricket CD is coming so soon!
Despite the rain the press were royally entertained by three acts... all providing music for the summer season at this gorgeous hotel.
Last Friday, the rain drove us inside, later in the summer we will be in the courtyard in the open air.... which will be splendid!
The concerts were started last year, and should be excellent.
On 8th & 9th July and 5th & 6th August we will be performing songs from classic West End and Broadway musicals.
Soprano Bella and Viva Live Music will have four nights too...
On this night, each act did a small bit, and also had a guest young singer called Jack, who showed his Bublé-esque credentials at the age of fifteen!
Let's hope the weather is more favourable for us all over the next few months...
Now, back to learning German words and music for Saturday in Stuttgart...
PS: Cricket CD is coming so soon!
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Alan Jay Lerner plaque
No this is not a shock 25-years-after-his-death announcement of the great man's dental issues, but a joyous celebration of the playwright-lyricist [he did not like the word librettist!] at St Paul's Covent Garden, this lunchtime. After a quarter of a century, Liz Robertson, AJL's widow, unveiled his plaque to celebrate his long association with England and the West End.
Liz and the vicar of St Paul's, Simon Grigg planned the event, and asked our old friend Hugh Wooldridge to organise the whole thing - and splendidly he did so...
On hand many greats from the stage... one highlight being Wouldn't it be Luvverly sung by six separate Eliza's... more-or-less spanning the six decades of My Fair Lady's existence. [Sally Ann Howes, Katie Knight-Adams, Jill Martin, Amy Nuttall, Jean Scott & Liz herself.]
David Firman and Jason Carr played on two pianos to accompany... marvellously and extempore! Rehearsal, reschmersal.
Anthony Andrews was glorious emoting Arthur's Proposition speech from Camelot... Jasper and Tony Britton outdoing each other in father and son speechifying. Tim Rice & Don Black gave their lyricists' perspective on his excellence and wit. Russ Abbot & Gerard Kenny sang, as did boys and girls from Laine's Theatre Arts and the West End Chorus... beautifully.
...and what did we do, I hear you cry... well, we accompanied Sir Tim in his ever-excellent rendition of the Alan Jay Lerner piece from Paint Your Wagon, Wand'rin' Star. Many said this was the comic highlight of the event... I think that is a compliment...
Another lovely surprise was seeing our old friend Brian who played the thief in Commuting a piece written for TLQ by Stephen Oliver and which we performed in the Covent Garden Festival as part of our Stephen Oliver Trilogy in the 1990s, directed by Simon Callow. Excellent to see Brian who is now retired, but was in early productions of Lerner shows... and was busily meeting old mates.
Other faces/names sighted... Trevor Nunn, Amanda Barrie, Christopher Biggins, Margaret Hodge (such fun!) and a message was read from Andrew Lloyd Webber, who was unavoidably watching one of his own shows [and Camelot too!] at the Stratford Festival, Canada.
Also unavoidable was the champagne reception at The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane (busily gearing up for Shrek's opening night tonight) ...and a glorious sunshine-filled day for it too...
Liz and the vicar of St Paul's, Simon Grigg planned the event, and asked our old friend Hugh Wooldridge to organise the whole thing - and splendidly he did so...
On hand many greats from the stage... one highlight being Wouldn't it be Luvverly sung by six separate Eliza's... more-or-less spanning the six decades of My Fair Lady's existence. [Sally Ann Howes, Katie Knight-Adams, Jill Martin, Amy Nuttall, Jean Scott & Liz herself.]
David Firman and Jason Carr played on two pianos to accompany... marvellously and extempore! Rehearsal, reschmersal.
Anthony Andrews was glorious emoting Arthur's Proposition speech from Camelot... Jasper and Tony Britton outdoing each other in father and son speechifying. Tim Rice & Don Black gave their lyricists' perspective on his excellence and wit. Russ Abbot & Gerard Kenny sang, as did boys and girls from Laine's Theatre Arts and the West End Chorus... beautifully.
...and what did we do, I hear you cry... well, we accompanied Sir Tim in his ever-excellent rendition of the Alan Jay Lerner piece from Paint Your Wagon, Wand'rin' Star. Many said this was the comic highlight of the event... I think that is a compliment...
Another lovely surprise was seeing our old friend Brian who played the thief in Commuting a piece written for TLQ by Stephen Oliver and which we performed in the Covent Garden Festival as part of our Stephen Oliver Trilogy in the 1990s, directed by Simon Callow. Excellent to see Brian who is now retired, but was in early productions of Lerner shows... and was busily meeting old mates.
Other faces/names sighted... Trevor Nunn, Amanda Barrie, Christopher Biggins, Margaret Hodge (such fun!) and a message was read from Andrew Lloyd Webber, who was unavoidably watching one of his own shows [and Camelot too!] at the Stratford Festival, Canada.
Also unavoidable was the champagne reception at The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane (busily gearing up for Shrek's opening night tonight) ...and a glorious sunshine-filled day for it too...
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