Party Pieces may never be the same again....but there gain, Don will only be 80 once! It was our very special pleasure and honour to share our end of term bash with our esteemed President - and dear Doreen, of course - on his four-score birthday. Here is Vince's memorable tribute - sung to the tune of Schubert's setting of Shalespeare's To Sylvia ;-)
An Don (To Don)
Upon his eightieth birthday !
Happy greetings,
Don, dear maestro,
on this your four-score birthday.
Wholly loved,
and praised indeed,
for wisdom and great kindness.
Friend to all,
undoubtedly,
You’re our great celebrity !
Nineteen thirty.
Birthplace: Hoxton.
From there you have ascended.
Ivor Evans
made no mistake,
in giving you your first break !
Ever since,
from time to time,
you have reached such heights sublime !
Don, we thank you,
double forte,
and gladly sing your praises.
Valentine Singers,
is safe in care
of you, its founder member.
And we declare –
assuredly -
that you must our president be !
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Saturday, 24 July 2010
ENO Baylis 'Know the Show'
In most seasons the ENO Baylis programme runs a 'Know the Show' event, for adult non-professional singers, providing an opportunity to work with members of the ENO music staff and learn music from the ENO's repertoire.
For the Autum 2010 season a 2-day event is taking place at Cecil Sharp House (just North of Regents Park) on Thursday 26th and Friday 27th August, 10am to 4.15pm.
Participants can book for one or both days, and the repertoire (sung in English with music provided) is:
Thursday 26th Faust & Radamisto
Friday 27th La boheme & Don Giovanni
There is a parallel event for children aged 7 to 12.
I have taken part in several 'Know the Show' events, and can thoroughly recommend them; the music staff are brilliant, and usually members of the ENO chorus are present to sing with the sections.
Full details are on the ENO website at
http://www.eno.org/see-whats-on/productions/production-page.php?&itemid=914
Tickets can only be booked at the Box Office or by phone.
For the Autum 2010 season a 2-day event is taking place at Cecil Sharp House (just North of Regents Park) on Thursday 26th and Friday 27th August, 10am to 4.15pm.
Participants can book for one or both days, and the repertoire (sung in English with music provided) is:
Thursday 26th Faust & Radamisto
Friday 27th La boheme & Don Giovanni
There is a parallel event for children aged 7 to 12.
I have taken part in several 'Know the Show' events, and can thoroughly recommend them; the music staff are brilliant, and usually members of the ENO chorus are present to sing with the sections.
Full details are on the ENO website at
http://www.eno.org/see-whats-on/productions/production-page.php?&itemid=914
Tickets can only be booked at the Box Office or by phone.
Wednesday, 21 July 2010
Mozart fest & feast
Here are some of the comments that have been sent in since Saturday's Mozart Evening:
From the audience
"Passionate singing"
"We want to thank you for a wonderful concert this evening. The choir gave us a lovely performance under your baton, and you got the very best from the soloists and the orchestra. Tim's majestic playing of the Piano concerto was thrilling."
From members of the professional orchestra
"fab concert"
"I thought it went really well on the night - the choir did a great performance!"
"A real pleasure to work with you "
"It was a lovely concert. Choir and soloists good too. Nice to work with you again"
From members of the choir
"Thanks again for a wonderful experience yesterday evening, I thoroughly enjoyed being part of it."
"Thanks to you for a great experience on Saturday....the concerto was sparkling"
From the audience
"Passionate singing"
"We want to thank you for a wonderful concert this evening. The choir gave us a lovely performance under your baton, and you got the very best from the soloists and the orchestra. Tim's majestic playing of the Piano concerto was thrilling."
From members of the professional orchestra
"fab concert"
"I thought it went really well on the night - the choir did a great performance!"
"A real pleasure to work with you "
"It was a lovely concert. Choir and soloists good too. Nice to work with you again"
From members of the choir
"Thanks again for a wonderful experience yesterday evening, I thoroughly enjoyed being part of it."
"Thanks to you for a great experience on Saturday....the concerto was sparkling"
Thursday, 3 June 2010
Mozart Vespers K339
Can anyone shed light on the given title to this work - 'Vesperae solennes de confessore'
Its the 'confessore' bit that puzzles me. My basic Latin tells me this is one word for priest and I fully understand that up until the time of Mozart and Pope Benedict 14th, Vespers would have been sung exclusively by those ordained. So, in the light of the relaxation by Benedict and Archbishop Colloredo of Vienna, to allow secularisation of some religious music, would Mozart ascribe this work as being that of 'a priest'?
I've not been able to track this down in any reference book, but perhaps there's someone out there that does know??
As for the rest of the Latin text - I can manage to follow most of Psalms 110-113 and part 117, and of course the Magnificat - but if anyone does have a definitive translation it might be helpful to further understand the text we're singing.
Its the 'confessore' bit that puzzles me. My basic Latin tells me this is one word for priest and I fully understand that up until the time of Mozart and Pope Benedict 14th, Vespers would have been sung exclusively by those ordained. So, in the light of the relaxation by Benedict and Archbishop Colloredo of Vienna, to allow secularisation of some religious music, would Mozart ascribe this work as being that of 'a priest'?
I've not been able to track this down in any reference book, but perhaps there's someone out there that does know??
As for the rest of the Latin text - I can manage to follow most of Psalms 110-113 and part 117, and of course the Magnificat - but if anyone does have a definitive translation it might be helpful to further understand the text we're singing.
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
Times review of Valentine Singers in Mahler 2
Here is the Times review of our performance of Mahler 2 and the Festival Hall on Sunday
Monday, 3 May 2010
Valentine Singers at the Royal Festival Hall
Valentine Singers made their debut performance in the Clore Ballroom of the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday 2nd May, performing a mixture of a cappella pieces plus Shearing's Songs and Sonnets accompanied by Tim Smith (piano) and Paul Bartels (bass).
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