I've just spent the last three days in rehearsals with the cast of a Carmen which Opera Brava are doing. While this is a small company, it's probably the most prestigious one I've worked with so far: no orchestra, only piano, but they have, like, proper costumes and nice sets and lighting and everything (and a movement coach: v important in the ( Read more... )

Took morning off work today to do a last minute audition. (European Chamber Opera - not as impressive as that sounds.) I think there must be a website somewhere of scabby but functional audition spaces for cash-strapped classical music groups in and around London - would be quite curious to see it if so. The last one I went to was a miniature ( Read more... )

Not the most comfortable concert I've ever done by a long shot - for at least three different reasons, only one the obvious musical... For a start Trinity College Chapel was FREEZING, which seems a bit daft for part of one of the most obscenely wealthy institutions around. (No particular value judgement here, just jealous.) Apparently the ( Read more... )

I am currently trying to memorise the remaining music for my concert on Saturday: I got at least one funny look on the train this morning because I was singing a particularly demented semiquaver run over and over again under my breath. It's just as well this isn't a staged performance so I will have the music in front of me: I've learnt from bitter ( Read more... )