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Performances in 2011

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I haven't blogged for well over a year! A brief summary of 2011 then – just so I can keep track if for nothing else!

Several highlights – Turandot with Welsh National Opera (WNO) from April to June, which was fantastic. Several performances in Cardiff at the Welsh Millenium Centre and at the Birmingham Hippodrome. A shame this clashed with an offer to work with the English National Opera (ENO).

I worked with some great choirs and choral societies:

Pontypridd Choral Society – Dvorak Stabat Mater
North Devon Choral Society – Rossini Stabat Mater & Puccini Messa di Gloria
Cowbridge Male Voice Choir – 41st Annual Concert.

At the North Devon Choral Society I had the pleasure of working with David Webb (Tenor). Seems like he is going on to great things – his group, Amore is getting a lot of exposure at the BBC, so I wish him well. Good PR around this group – who is it?

Finally, a couple of charity concerts. One with my very good friends at Opera Sulis for The Children's Society (more with Opera Sulis in 2012) and a Verdi Requiem for Voices for Hospices with Eldrydd Cynan Jones (sop), Joanne Thomas (mezzo) and Geraint Dodd (tenor).

In the Bleak Midwinter

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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.

Pontypridd Choral Society

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This is my first attempt at a Blog on the new-look website. How exciting! So what does one talk about? I guess I could tell you about the concert I did with the Pontypridd Choral Society on Saturday night.

Worked with an excellent pianist, Nicki Rose, of Cardiff. My programme was a real mixed bag. In the first half some opera and oratorio (Handel's Ombra mai fu and Pro Pecatis from Rossini's Stabat Mater; this latter piece was recorded earlier in the year in Devon and is available as a download off this website).

Next was a chunk from Elijah. A pretty good sing to to end the first half. The second half was lighter and my contribution included items from Porgy and Bess and South Pacific. I ended with the Toreador song from Carmen.

The audience seemed to enjoy the concert, which is what it is all about. Shame there weren't a few more people there, but then again there was a popular dancing programme on the TV...but that is a rant for another blog!