Dear all
Many thanks to those present at tonight’s rehearsal, and many thanks to Michael Diaper for stepping into Robert’s shoes for the evening. Robert has been unwell and I’m sure you’ll all join me in wishing him a speedy recovery.
This evening, we spent a little time at the start warning up with the Vivaldi Gloria. In the first movement, please make sure we are not adding letter to the Latin text – “Gloria in excelsis” not “Gloria-r-in excelsis”, and “De-o” not “De-y-o”. We also looked at the Qui Tollis/Suscipe – ignore whatever the dynamics in the score are telling you and arch me for this one!!
We spent most of the rehearsal making a start on a few parts of the Faure Requiem. There is a fair amount of note-bashing to do here but the piece is fairly straight forward and very singable once we get into it. The first movement is only tricky for how slow it is at the start – at such a slow tempo, it is hard to stay in tune and not to speed up.
We also looked at the end, In Paradisum, which has a few difficult entries at the key shifts, so we will need to make sure we are comfortable with the nots, especially for the altos, tenors and bases (who are effectively the soprano’s backing singers in this movement…). If you only look at one thing this week, make it this!
Finally we bashed through the notes of the penultimate movement, the Libera Me (with probably the most famous baritone solo in the choral repertoire). In the tutti sections, much like In Paradisum, there are some unexpected key shifts which make entries a bit awkward on some places, so we will need to become more secure over time.
Charity Performance for the British Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal
I mentioned at the end that on Sunday (20th March) I am performing in a scratch performance of one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s most famous comic operas, HMS Pinafore, to raise money for the above charity, and it would be great to see some friendly faces in the audience. I’m sure we’ve all seen the news about the awful situation in Ukraine and that we have all asked the question of what we can do to help. Well, this is your chance to do just that, and all you have to do is be entertained for an evening!
The show is being organised by the New London Opera Group, one of the groups i perform with regularly. It will begin at 7:30pm on the evening of Sunday 20th March in Holy Trinity Church, Prince Consort Road, South Kensington (next to the Royal Albert Hall). Nearest stations are South Kensington and Gloucester Road. Entry is only £10 and all performers are also contributing £10 to take part. The company is covering all costs and so all proceeds will be donated to the charity. Details can be found on the FaceBook group – https://fb.me/e/1w3NwloVw
I’m sure many of you have at least heard of HMS Pinafore before, or perhaps you saw the recent production by the English National Opera at the Colosseum (starring Les Dennis), bit for those that don’t it is a wonderfully farcical story featuring some of Sullivan’s most catchy tunes. Common sailor Ralph Rackstraw (played by yours truly) has fallen in love with Josephine, his Captain’s daughter. Despite requiring his love, they are from different social classes and so she is forced to refuse him. Her father is hoping to marry her off to Sir Joseph Porter, the First Lord of the Admiralty who has never been to sea in his life (a thinly-veiled dig at the First Lord of the Admiralty at the time the piece was written, one WH Smith (yes, the stationary guy)) who, despite being a nobleman, believes that ‘love levels all ranks’. In taking this stance he unwittingly encourages Ralph and Josephine to elope together, but unpopular sailor Dick Deadeye is determined to get in their way. Will he succeed? Or will Ralph and Josephine get their happy ending? You’ll have to come along and find out!
Hope to see many of you there!
Dave