Christmas concert

Wednesday rehearsal with Stephen Cleobury for Thursday concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Had staff meetings in the morning and they went well. Left at 2 and Liz brought car up. Between rehearsal at Holy Trinity (hopeless sightlines and acoustic very echoey) and concert we walked down to the ice rink in front of the Natural History museum and bought spiced candles and decorations. The concert was great. King's sang Bullard, Weir, Vaughan Williams - superb baritone and tenor soloists, not so keen on the boy. Part 1 of Creation was fun with good tenor and baritone soloists, soprano not so great. Overture to "St Paul" and dance of the tumblers by Rimsky-Korsakov. Tenor sang "Ave Maria" and soprano "Panis". Best of all Fantasia on Christmas carols by Vaughan Williams. 3 congregational carols and 2 encores from Kings - Walford Davies The holly and the ivy and Stephen's arrangement of "Infant holy". 452 bus and 44 bus and drive home by 11.15 p.m. Always a treat!

Comments

Edbowie said…
Wish I had gone to hear King's at the RAH; the RVW fantasia is a marvellous piece. From the brooding cellos at the beginning to the brightening of the mood at 'Come all ye worthy Gentlemen'. I never tire of it. I agree with Liz about the MacMillan piece. At 100 minutes the Cathedral Christmas Celebration was a tad too long.
30 December 2008 at 13:57
John the organist said…
Yes I love it too -it just is Christmas for me like "Once in royal". Forget Stille nacht - stick with RVW!
30 December 2008 at 23:03
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