¡Feliz Navidad!

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My final concert of 2010 was a glorious evening of Iberian polyphony with the Renaissance Singers, in the opulent setting of St James', Spanish Place (which I've somehow never discovered before now, despite being just off Marylebone High Street and therefore within a stone's throw of the Academy, Wigmore Hall etc etc!). Joined by The English Cornett and Sackbutt Ensemble, and with organ continuo on an instrument provided by Manders, this was a gorgeous pre-Christmas programme of Guerrero, Victoria and Padilla, entitled, appropriately enough ‘¡Feliz Navidad!’.

Festivals next year

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Delighted to have been invited with Marcus Farnsworth to perform in both Buxton and Oundle Festivals this summer.  The Oundle Festival has always been very special to me; along with generations of other organists my formative training was on the ‘Oundle for Organists’ courses (and indeed several of my closest friends today are people I met there!).  It will also therefore be pleasingly cyclic to be teaching on Oundle’s new course (‘Advance!’) for current and incoming university and cathedral organ scholars in April.

Changed dates

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The provisional dates for two recitals at Curry Rivel Music Club (Somerset) next autumn have been moved and are now as follows: 24th September with Marcus Farnsworth (baritone) and 15th October with James Turnbull (oboe).  Having performed here in 2009 with James it will be fun to be back twice in such quick succession!

Pilgrims’ School

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In the middle of a relentless fortnight as one of the official accompanists for RAM entrance auditions (tied to a ludicrous number of soprano panels this year, it would seem…), an excuse to escape to Winchester for the day was very welcome!  It was the end of term at The Pilgrims’ School, marked by their Christmas Carol Service in the cathedral.  This year was particularly special, however, as it saw the retirement of Hilary Webster (Director of Music), who has been at the school since 1979.  Having spent a very happy and productive gap year working in Winchester between school and university (a combined post at the choir school and the College), and having been much encouraged in the early stages of my interest in accompaniment by Hilary, I was so pleased to be able to be back for this special occasion.  Delighted to see that the carol service standard is as extraordinarily high as ever!

Christmas Carols!

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Today saw the first Christmas carols of the year, with Uxbridge Choral Society, under the baton of conductor Jeff Stewart.   Their cunning planning sees them perform the same programme twice in a day, once catching the afternoon shoppers, and once as an evening affair.  It was a pleasure to be back playing for these lovely people again, and as in previous years the programme was enhanced by some beautiful singing by local schoolchildren.  More carols next week for Epsom Chamber Choir with Michael Stevenson.

End of term

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End of teaching term for visiting music staff at Eton: happy Christmas to all, and well done to the boys on another hectic but successful term of concerts, exams and auditions!

Westgate Music Series

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It was lovely to be back at the Westgate Chapel in Lewes, giving another recital in their monthly series. This beautiful intimate wood-panelled chapel, with its warm acoustic, makes a superb venue for chamber music. The first half consisted of Beethoven's A major sonata and Schumann's Fantasie-stücke with cellist Steffan Rees; the second half was a revival with violinist Clare Wheeler of part of the programme we performed for the UNIQ summer school in July –  Beethoven's Romance in G and Franck's epic sonata. We had a warm welcome on a freezing evening from the audience, so it will be good to be back again next month (Thursday 16th December) in a recital with flautist Marielle Way, the Artistic Director of the series.

Così reviews

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The first reviews for RAO's Così fan tutte are out, and the production has gone down a treat, with lots of praise for all involved, in both casts, in the pit and behind the scenes. Particularly gratifying is the comment “there was distinguished, characterful continuo playing (on a fortepiano) from Elizabeth Burgess, almost like a seventh character” (Classical Source). Here are links to the full reviews from Classical Source and Bach Track.  The production runs until 29th.

Opening night

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Opening night of RAO's Così fan tutte  –  toi toi to all!

Lewes preparation

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Rehearsing with both Steffan and Clare this week for next Thursday's recital in Lewes; really enjoying working on this gorgeous (albeit full-of-notes….) programme: Beethoven 3rd sonata and Schumann Fantasie-stücke with cello; Beethoven G major Romance and Franck sonata with violin.