...and on to Maaseik.
On Friday night a concert in a beautiful church... and also the chance to hear a wonderful brass sextet to warm the audience up - lovely, sonorous sounds... and very virtuosic - excellent Tuba-ness!
A very beautiful space in which to sing (Sint Annakerk van Aldeneik - Maaseik) - with ancient paintings on the walls - re-discovered under the later paintwork - & very old graves on show too...
Bist Du bei Mir was especially delightful to sing in the acoustic...
We were in this wonderful part of Europe where the European ideal is so clear... as on the same road you can drive for 7 kilometres, starting in Belgium, traversing The Netherlands and ending up in Germany (of course, not a passport control in sight):- so we went to see some old friends in Holland after the concert, as it was so near! Good to see Gertie, Gabby, 'Reet and Jo...in their own town... we will actually perform in Holland in 2014... More details when we know them!
On Saturday morning three workshops at Stedelijke Academie voor Muziek & Woord...
Thank you to Gerrie of the Academie for looking after us at Maaseik so splendidly...
We had a lovely time sharing the joy of singing with the children's choir, the adult choir and a delightful sextet of young women... all three groups were excellently taught and it was great to be with both staff and singers for the morning... Thanks to all for being able to cope with three of us speaking English (even the youngsters), and of course to Steve for talking in Flemish too!
A very uplifting morning...
Sunday, 10 November 2013
Thursday, 7 November 2013
North Belgium #1
First of three events here in rainy Northern Belgium.... at a castle in Meeuwen-Gruitrode.
Great to sing in a castle, innit!? Excellent audience, and we got to change in an old library too!
...they were particularly splendid at singing "rat-da-dat-da-dat" in chanson d'amour.
Two more dates to come, just around the corner, both in Maaseik - a concert in a church and some workshops...
Great to sing in a castle, innit!? Excellent audience, and we got to change in an old library too!
...they were particularly splendid at singing "rat-da-dat-da-dat" in chanson d'amour.
Two more dates to come, just around the corner, both in Maaseik - a concert in a church and some workshops...
Wednesday, 16 October 2013
Elgar Room - Royal Albert Hall
It's only small, so get your tickets soon!
We are back at the Elgar Room at 8pm on November 13th, after our Christmas show there last year...
Details here...
...should be fun; there are lots of photos in the room of famous RAH types - and we are going to sing them all... come along and see how (why?) we do it...
We are back at the Elgar Room at 8pm on November 13th, after our Christmas show there last year...
Details here...
...should be fun; there are lots of photos in the room of famous RAH types - and we are going to sing them all... come along and see how (why?) we do it...
Sunday, 13 October 2013
Lunchtime in Yorkshire
An excellent day, and that rare thing, a mid-week lunchtime concert in a Town Hall!
Dewsbury Town Hall to be exact...
Lovely weather greeted us (the BBC-promised rain came as we entered the train to go home!) & the town looked as splendid as last year...
A good crowd was there, and enjoyed our singing; they even joined in with Lion Sleeps Tonight very melodiously!
...and an old friend who was involved in A Midsummer Night's Dream at The Thameside Globe Theatre in London with me a few years back, also turned up - how lovely...
A delightful day return to Dewsbury...
Dewsbury Town Hall to be exact...
Lovely weather greeted us (the BBC-promised rain came as we entered the train to go home!) & the town looked as splendid as last year...
A good crowd was there, and enjoyed our singing; they even joined in with Lion Sleeps Tonight very melodiously!
...and an old friend who was involved in A Midsummer Night's Dream at The Thameside Globe Theatre in London with me a few years back, also turned up - how lovely...
A delightful day return to Dewsbury...
Tuesday, 1 October 2013
TV appearance
Should you wish to see us (with Tylaine) on VRT een from last Sunday; click this link...
Look under "Afzonderlijke fragmenten".
Look under "Afzonderlijke fragmenten".
Monday, 30 September 2013
Belgian Busyness... then Chelsea
Firstly on Saturday night there was Ninove (just down the road from Bethlehem & Nazareth, but in Belgium!), where we gave our Madrigal to McCartney show - splendid welcome and excellent food at a local restaurant before the show.
We were joined for this show by the lovely Tylaine Van den Broeck on piano; delightful to have her with us... a terrific addition to our list of musical friends...
Then the next morning (up less early than the day before!) we appeared once again on De Zevende Dag - Andrew Marr-type show... hopefully we were a welcome counterpoint to politicians arguing with each other (and the journalists skewering all their arguments very well!)...
We sang a short version of Penny Lane, & Scarborough Fair with Tylaine on piano...
When we get the link to this online - we'll share it with you...
Time to rest you might think, but then it was on to the Eurostar to get home in time for a 6pm show at the Chelsea Arts Club:- started by the painter Whistler, it is a club for artists & creative people where no photos (and thus phones these days) are allowed... so I cannot show you anything about, or even tell you who was there! But the crowd were a delight and we had a great time entertaining them, and a very fine meal afterwards...
No; really time for a rest now....
We were joined for this show by the lovely Tylaine Van den Broeck on piano; delightful to have her with us... a terrific addition to our list of musical friends...
Then the next morning (up less early than the day before!) we appeared once again on De Zevende Dag - Andrew Marr-type show... hopefully we were a welcome counterpoint to politicians arguing with each other (and the journalists skewering all their arguments very well!)...
We sang a short version of Penny Lane, & Scarborough Fair with Tylaine on piano...
When we get the link to this online - we'll share it with you...
Time to rest you might think, but then it was on to the Eurostar to get home in time for a 6pm show at the Chelsea Arts Club:- started by the painter Whistler, it is a club for artists & creative people where no photos (and thus phones these days) are allowed... so I cannot show you anything about, or even tell you who was there! But the crowd were a delight and we had a great time entertaining them, and a very fine meal afterwards...
No; really time for a rest now....
Saturday, 28 September 2013
Busy BEes
A busy four days in Belgium, started with an evening in Scherpenheuvel-Bever at Den Egger... singing Best of British - Madrigal to McCartney - great night for all... & an excellent reaction form the public... who tell us on facebook that they want us to return...(just ask...!?)
Then on to Strombeek for Best of British... And Now for Something Completely Different at the CC Strombeek Grimbergen - terrific chock-a-block audience loved it all, and we were joined for this show, as so often by the excellent Chris Hatt, who was ever-dependent on piano... He's gone to Amsterdam today to audition children for his day job... Musical director of Billy Elliot (in Holland from 2015)...
New mask for end of show... Kate Middleton appeared carrying a baby (well done, Steve) and Chris became Mr Bean...playing Chariots of Fire - what larks!
Lovely theatre and staff - just as we have come to expect in Belgium...
Up very early this morning (5.30) for an appearance on En Nu Serieus on VRT Radio 2. We had asked whether there was the possibility of an iron, as there was an audience for the show... at first they suggested not, but then they found a local company (this show wanders the country & is in a different place each week - Harelbeke today!) who would (on radio) show off their pressing prowess... so our costumes were ironed live on air... it was quite odd standing in our underwear on the stage while we waited (I jest)... Despite the hour Penny Lane came out in a recognisable fashion!
Steve was then interviewed about chip shops... he tried to talk about our concerts!
We were back in our hotel rooms by ten to catch up on sleep...
...Before tonight's Best of British - Madrigal to McCartney at Ninove... with Tylaine Van den Broeck on piano...
Another dawn raid tomorrow, as we sing two songs (with Tylaine) & have an interview on De Zevende Dag (Andrew Marr / Sunday politics-type show)... In studio by 8am!
Hooray...
I am very aware we are doing some TV as I have a wonderful boil/spot on my nose... medley from Cyrano de Bergerac anyone? (this always happens - TV make-up will disguise!)
Then back to UK via Eurostar (marvellous) for a show at Chelsea Arts Club...
Then on to Strombeek for Best of British... And Now for Something Completely Different at the CC Strombeek Grimbergen - terrific chock-a-block audience loved it all, and we were joined for this show, as so often by the excellent Chris Hatt, who was ever-dependent on piano... He's gone to Amsterdam today to audition children for his day job... Musical director of Billy Elliot (in Holland from 2015)...
New mask for end of show... Kate Middleton appeared carrying a baby (well done, Steve) and Chris became Mr Bean...playing Chariots of Fire - what larks!
Lovely theatre and staff - just as we have come to expect in Belgium...
Up very early this morning (5.30) for an appearance on En Nu Serieus on VRT Radio 2. We had asked whether there was the possibility of an iron, as there was an audience for the show... at first they suggested not, but then they found a local company (this show wanders the country & is in a different place each week - Harelbeke today!) who would (on radio) show off their pressing prowess... so our costumes were ironed live on air... it was quite odd standing in our underwear on the stage while we waited (I jest)... Despite the hour Penny Lane came out in a recognisable fashion!
Steve was then interviewed about chip shops... he tried to talk about our concerts!
We were back in our hotel rooms by ten to catch up on sleep...
...Before tonight's Best of British - Madrigal to McCartney at Ninove... with Tylaine Van den Broeck on piano...
Another dawn raid tomorrow, as we sing two songs (with Tylaine) & have an interview on De Zevende Dag (Andrew Marr / Sunday politics-type show)... In studio by 8am!
Hooray...
I am very aware we are doing some TV as I have a wonderful boil/spot on my nose... medley from Cyrano de Bergerac anyone? (this always happens - TV make-up will disguise!)
Then back to UK via Eurostar (marvellous) for a show at Chelsea Arts Club...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)