Handel’s forgotten hit
A preview of English Touring Opera’s Ottone which comes to Durham in November, and in which I get to write about two of my passions in one go – Handel opera and Byzantine history.
Sweeter than Roses
My idea of a perfect summer afternoon: sitting in a cool church listening to Baroque chamber music. Review of a concert by Charlotte La Thrope, Deborah Thorne and John Green.
The Bishop’s Consort: Acis and Galatea
A delightful performance of Handel’s “Acis and Galatea”, performed by the Bishop’s Consort with Hugo Hymas and Charlotte La Thrope in the title roles.
ETO – autumn ticket offer
English Touring Opera have just announced their dates in Durham for their autumn productions. Following their triple bill of baroque opera last year, they’re bringing us more Handel on 5 November – this time it’s Ottone – one of his finest tragedies, packed with arias that are regularly performed in concert. The other production, on 4 […]
Baroque ornamentation workshop
Some notes from the workshop I attended on baroque ornamentation run by Evelyn Nallen for the Durham Branch of Society of Recorder Players – with useful reminders for me of what we learnt.
DCYC’s celebratory Messiah
Past and present members of Durham County Youth Choir gave a magnificent performance of Handel’s Messiah in Durham Cathedral to celebrate their 50th anniversary in an evening that showed what a vital role the choir plays in music education in the North East. Read my review here:
Do you remember your first Messiah?
On Saturday I’ll be going to hear Durham County Youth Choir singing Messiah in Durham Cathedral. I expect quite a few of the younger members of the choir will be singing their first Messiah, and so that got me thinking about how exciting it is to sing it for the first time, and then each time after that too…
DCYC Messiah soloists
Durham County Youth Choir have sent me details of their soloists for their Messiah on Saturday 26 April. The list includes choir alumni and current members: Sopranos: Joanna Burton, Elinor Chapman, Debra Morley and 6th former Katie Button Altos: Helen Bruce, Vanessa Dinning and Claire McKay Tenors: Mark Anyan, Michael Beaney, John Davies, David Harris […]
Recorder programme notes
Notes about the recorder music by Handel, Rubbra and Berkeley that I’ll be playing in a concert with Liz Roberts and Janet Evans on 28 February.
