----- Original Message -----
From: "Joanna Boulter" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2005 6:08 PM
Subject: Re: Canadian music on BBC2
> Bach at the Festival, Douglas? You lucky blighter! Do please report on the
> highlights. Backchannel to me if no one else is interested, but I
> certainly am.
>
The Chantry Singers, of which I am a Friend, run a Bach Festival every few
years when they can raise the money. No contribution from the Council who
believe classical music to be elitist and definitely not to be encouraged.
There is a full week of events lunchtime and evening. I picked out five
things:
1. The St John Passion in Bath Abbey last Saturday night which was an
education for me as I didnt know anything about it. The Choir brought in the
Steinitz Bach Players and, as usual, all the soloists were professionals
amonst whom were Bath girl Emma Kirkby, Stephen Varcoe, Simon Birchall etd
whose names you should recognise. Julian Podger was the Evangelist and was
brilliant. It is a sort of recitativo role as he tells the story. I found
the work very interesting as it was chopped up into pieces between choir,
orchestra and solists with the Evangelist keeping things going. But I wont
be buying the CD.
2. Tuesday night was Florilegium with a Brandenburg and a Suite amongst
other things including pieces from The Musical Offering. They were a young
lively group. Their encore was Bolivian music of which they have done a CD
with singers they went out and found in Bolivia but I wont be buying it. The
marvellous Brandenburg was the standout piece.
3. Tonight, Thursday, was London Harpsichord Ensemble with oboe, Violin and
harpsichord soloists. Three concertos and bits and pieces. The violin
concerto was the best piece but the overall effect of the music was more
pure Bach than Florilegium who were the better musicians.
4. Tomorrow, Friday night, I have Prunella Scales playing Old Man Bach and
telling his lifestory to cello and harpsichord accompaniement. It was to be
her husband Timothy West, who is Patron, but he is in a play in Birmingham I
believe. Fred Beake says she came to read some poems in Torquay recently and
was very headmistressy so we will see how it goes.
5. Saturday night I am back in the Abbey, the above three were in the
Guildhall, for the Mass in B minor with the Bach Festival Players and
amongst the soloists is Catherine Bott. Another piece that will be new to
me.
I see that amongst the Organ recitals is Gillian Weir's and Rachel POdger
is playing her violin but there is an enormous amount on and I have to be
careful not to exhaust myself or my funds.
And I think it is three weeks to Amelia's Mozartfest when I have bought
tickets for the second half of the week.
And as I get an itchy throat inducing coughing which is getting worse as the
years go on I am experimenting successfully with sucky sweets. Now I must go
have a glass of milk and say hello to the cat. Cheers.
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