Off to Czech Republic

Well I'm off teaching today for a week.  I haven't been keeping this up at all but really should write it more.  Highlights of this year were definitely Wigmore Hall and associated radio appearances.  Brook Street Band, as always, with Simon Desbrulais on trumpet.  Such a great atmosphere in the hall, with a couple of encores at the end and a really warm and lovely feeling about the whole thing.

A trip to teotihuacan

What a day!
Fabulous concert last night. 3 encores, Umbrae Carae, then the orchestra played Corelli then I sang Armate Face. Twice in one night! Not bad going! Then today a trip to these amazing pyramids. Truly spectacular.   Lucky old me. Some great shopping in the artisan market at Ciudadela and now homeward bound.

Mexico 2013 with Modo Antiquo and some catching up!

Wow! Two years since I wrote anything.  I am so much more at home now with the kids and teaching so much more, but there's still been some lovely concert work.  I will fill in as best I can in another post, but definite highlights were Kings College Cambridge tour finishing at Concertgebouw (Monteverdi Vespers) and a few Wigmores with Brook Street Band, as well as other lovely concerts and education projects with them.  Trips to Rome and Florence with Modo Antiquo and now here in Mexico.
Inauspicious start... Dislocated ribs 48 hours before the plane journey.  Mercifully the wonderful Heike put it all back into place.  Then, horrific bout of food poisoning the night before the first concert.  Not a great combination! The concert being a midday concert meant getting on stage only a few hours after some serious vomiting.  (Too much information?!).  3 very efficient paramedics appeared in my room less than an hour before the concert with a huge syringe and injected me with some sort of stomach settling thing which did get me through.  I only cut 2 arias and feel very proud, under the circumstances, to have got a standing ovation after yelling my way through 'armate face et anguibus'.  I nearly fell over at the end mind you!
Guanajuato was great and Festival Cervantino is the best in the world.   All I can think of is the colour, the music, the party atmosphere and just a great, warm audience at the templo de la valenciana. Theatre all over the streets, including some great theatre to mark the Independence Day anniversary.  Pictures to follow.
Now back in Mexico City.  Had a look round the Zocalo yesterday and most of the men in the orchestra bought fabulous hats.  They all look very dapper!
More later...

Beaune... Vagaus

Germany, somewhere

...to be honest, and it's a bit shameful, I don't know where I am. I don't even know the name of the town, or the name of the hotel. I know we just flew to Berlin though. Long and hideous travel day and my back and neck are triple sore from luggage dragging.

Still, hot bath and a good book and a long sleep will, I hope, sort it all out.

Weather in England not so good I fear.

X

Florence

Think I might just have to have that cappuccino in Rivoire.

Last morning in Florence. Feeling a bit tired in the voice. Either coming down with something or I did some yelling in the vengeance aria yesterday. Fear the former... would prefer the latter as I have two days off now before I have to sing again.

Wish I had an ipad.

Florence

Great day in Florence. More old haunts ticked off. Went to Cambi again for dinner... very lovely.

Juditha Triumphans in Braunschweig... volcanic ash cloud permitting. Actually we will get there as if we can't fly I believe we're going by bus. Oh God.

Bought some nice presents for the children and visited the farmacia di Santa Maria Novella yesterday. Joy of joys!

Musically a good day. It's nice to be doing a new aria as well as the Vagaus stuff. Armate, face et anguibus went flaming fast today. I'm not sure I can actually sing it that fast!

Otherwise, all lovely and just like old times. After all, it feels as though I virtually lived here for a few years!