And it certainly was a bleak midwinter outside last Thursday night in Melksham, Wiltshire where I gave a concert of Christmas music with Opera Sulis at St Michael's Church.
It was the coldest night of the year and Wiltshire had a covering of snow overnight, but this didn't deter around 300 people attending the concert at this lovely church...but, boy, was it cold! And the cold air does affect the voice - I'd be really interested to hear from other singers whose voices are affected by the cold, drying air. It seemed to hit everyone.
Nevertheless, the programme went well; music from Handel's Messiah through traditional carols to Victorian songs and more modern items (I sang Warlock's Bethlehem Down) and a new peice written by the tenor of the evening, Garth Bardsley (famed for appearing as the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera both in London and Manchester).
OS concerts are always good - can't wait for the next one!
Another Chrismtas concert last night. A little more local in Pentyrch, Cardiff, with the Sine Nomine singers. Some good traditional Advent and Christmas fare. My contribution? Cornelius' The Three Kings.
