The Sixteen's Blog

Guitars, Manila

Lots to catch up on.  We had another successful visit to the Bath Mozartfest last weekend; we have been rehearsing for Handel’s Saul at the Barbican next Tuesday 22 November at 6.30pm (there are still just a few tickets available); and on Friday we are off to the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester for the first of two concerts there as part of our residency this season.  It’s another great programme: Purcell’s Come ye sons of Art celebrates the birthday of Queen Mary and includes the duet Sound the Trumpet. Handel’s Eternal Source of Light comes from another Birthday Ode to an English Queen, while Dixit Dominus dates from his Italian period, characterised by its virtuoso voice-parts. Tickets for this are available here (again, not too many left) and tickets for our Choral Pilgrimage concert there on 5 June next year are also on sale.  The second part of our Genesis Sixteen project is also taking place in Manchester over the weekend, so we are looking forward to seeing the members again (watch the Genesis Sixteen ‘behind the scenes’ video).

I am recently back from the Federation of Asian Cultural Promotion conference in Manila. You can obviously only get a passing impression in the course of a short visit, but the Spanish music influence is still evident (hence the photo); I heard some brilliant guitar playing and also enjoyed a concert by the visiting Taipei Symphony Orchestra, which has a remarkable woodwind section; I heard a remarkable young Japanese pianist, Fuyuko Nakamura; but best of all was the FEU Bamboo Band. The interest in choral singing is huge in the Philippines, so we are working hard to get our CORO CDs distributed there. Some interesting points from discussions during the conference sessions: at the rate China is building concert halls (2137 already, 4000 within 5 years) The Sixteen could do a 50-concert Choral Pilgrimage tour every year for 80 years and still not visit them all; restrictions on performing Western/Christian choral musics are easing at present; and why did no Koreans turn up this year?

The Old Town, Manila

Genesis Sixteen consort rehearsal

Nancy Cole (alto) writes: ‘ The last three days of Genesis Sixteen were as diverse as we had hoped. On Day 4, the wonderful Mary King arrived in Wandsworth, bringing her amazing and infectious energy with her. Most of us were fearing an embarrassing array of drama games, the type that expose those of us that are theatrically challenged and wishing to be anywhere but there. Yet we weren’t to worry as the challenges she gave us were testing and all in the spirit of working together. No exposing of dark emotional moments! Later that day the eminent Sally Dunkley led us in a workshop of the Byrd 4-part Mass, which was a wonderful opportunity to get to the heart of the piece and passionate surroundings that Byrd composed the piece for. Day 5 gave us a chance to return to our consort groups, but with the added pressure of Harry and Eamonn wandering around to have a listen. We each performed the pieces once more to each other and it was a great chance to see how differently we all approached solo singing. Day 6, we had our long promised lie in! We then hopped on a coach and were taken to Boughton Aluph, a beautiful destination in the heart of Kent. The coach itself was not exactly appreciated however. On arriving in the village and finding the church, we travelled down a very narrow country lane. As you can imagine, two way traffic does not exist and unfortunately we met with another car, causing her to reverse into a ditch. But, heroically, the Genesis lads came to the rescue and ran to save the small Ford ka from its unfortunate mishap. That’s right, not just singers but brawn as well! On arrival at the church we rehearsed our programme but also got to watch the real Sixteen’s rehearsal for the Choral Pilgrimage concert that night. We were blown away by the sound. Perhaps the best moment for me however was when Harry asked us to come and rehearse Victoria’s Salve Regina with them. And so we stood one Genesis Sixteen, one Sixteen. It was such a heightening for me, to see on a massively vivid scale what such singers could do to our sound and what musicality they created. Definitely one of the most inspirational moments I have experienced. The concert was phenomenal and we left feeling starry eyed and ready for our concert the next day. ‘

Sarah Potter, soprano

Sarah Potter, one of the seven sopranos on the first Genesis Sixteen course writes: ‘Day Three at the National Opera Studio and the tea break continues to be an important part of the choir’s schedule (despite the dribbly kettle). A morning’s hard work on consort songs culminated in an informal performance of the repertoire covered by each of the groups – a great chance to witness the fantastic array of individual voices that make up the collective sound of Genesis Sixteen. The afternoon’s exploits included a collective trip to observe the final rehearsal for the evening’s BBC Prom at the Royal Albert Hall, featuring Beethoven’s ‘Choral’ Symphony performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra & Chorus (and soloists), and the performance of an exciting new commission by the legendary cellist Yo Yo Ma.

‘The evening brought with it the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of such greats as Sir Edward Elgar, Gilbert & Sullivan, Yehudi Menuhin and Noel Coward at London’s exclusive Garrick Club, and for many of us the highlight of the experience was the chance to personally thank our generous host and benefactor John Studzinski (founder of the Genesis Foundation), and the opportunity to perform a setting of the Salve Regina by Melgas as a personal tribute before dinner. Although the current membership of the Garrick Club is something of a well-kept secret, a chance sighting of Professor Robert Winston was for me an added highlight to the evening, as was a quick peek at the members’ post board at reception (I’m not sure I could have coped with the excitement had I witnessed David Suchet popping in to pick up his letters). It was a great thrill to become better acquainted with our fellow choir members and tutors, although for many the experience was somewhat enhanced by the free flow of the Domaine Saumaize-Michelin 2009. I suspect this may also have been a significant factor in Lottie successfully persuading me to write this blog entry… Payment in biscuits upon receipt, thank you.’

If you are near the South Bank Centre at lunchtime on Sunday, come and hear Genesis Sixteen perform in the foyer of the Royal Festival Hall at 13.15.

Working on Byrd

I went to the National Opera Studio yesterday to see the end of the morning session of the second day of the Genesis Sixteen course.  I can’t reveal the secrets of the rehearsal studio (although the photo shows one of Harry’s techniques!), but it was inspiring watching Eamonn and Harry working with the 22 course participants. 

Bass Harry Bennett has written about Day 2:  ‘Dress for the Garrick Club dinner is suit and tie / female equivalent. Please bring an appropriate outfit or you may be refused entry.
 
‘Even after 24 email reminders, this was the message that pealed around in my mind with sheer horror. I was reminded once again upon arrival that it was imperative we had a suit to wear for our privileged invitation from the founder of the Genesis foundation, John Studzinski. Before I left my home in Portsmouth, I tried my suit on to check if it needed any repairs or such. Alas, I had piled on a few pounds since I had last worn it, and I had to hang it on my shelf of shame in my wardrobe along with all the skinny jeans and tops I had grown out of. I thought I was too old to grow out of clothes now. Clearly not. I’m now old enough to grow out of clothes the “grown-up” way.
 
‘We spent the day rehearsing the most beautiful music to the highest standard I could ever dream of. Most of us have now spent some time with our very own singing tutors, Chris and Charlotte, and I think it’s clear to say that with their extensive choral backgrounds their advice has been invaluable. Most of my choral life is spent singing sacred music, and this course has been such a great opportunity to explore this secret secular world that I have been missing out on. In particular, Vaughan Williams’ Three Shakespeare Songs have helped me learn how to enhance text through music. Harry and Eamonn’s direction has enabled me to harness this skill, and now I’ll be able to use it with any piece of music and ensemble I sing with.
 
‘Although I savour every minute we’re making music, I love the tea breaks that interject our rehearsals! We’re all a lot more relaxed with each other having let our guard down in the pub last night, and it’s great to get to know my fellow course mates. I’ve particularly enjoyed watching Lottie trying her hardest to find people to “volunteer” to write the blog. She bribed me with a packet of my favourite biscuits. We finished our rehearsal at 5.30PM, and I burst out of the National Opera Studio as quick as I could. As I was power-walking towards Wandsworth Town railway station to head to Oxford Street to buy a new suit, it occurred to me that perhaps a packet of biscuits was not the best fee for the guy that grew out of his suit the “grown-up” way.’

Domkerk Utrecht

A busy Bank Holiday weekend coming up.  The choir flies to the Netherlands this evening for tomorrow night’s concert at 20.00 in the Domkerk in Utrecht in the Festival Oude Muziek.  The programme includes Palestrina’s Missa Assumpta est Maria, a Magnificat by Aenerio, and Allegri’s Miserere.  Full details are on the festival’s website, but I fear it is returns only as the concert is sold out.  The concert is going out live in the Netherlands on Radio 4, in France on France Musique, and also in some other European Broadcasting Union countries, although I haven’t yet tracked them all down – you can at least listen through one of the above two sites’ streams!

‘The musical developments that accompanied all this movement is still largely hidden under the surface. As the world’s biggest early music festival, Utrecht wants to be an advocate for this unknown repertoire, or for music that we only think we know.  Roma – città eterna promises some unforgettable moments.’  And then, on Monday, the 22 members of Genesis Sixteen assemble in London for the first week’s course, culminating in a free performance at the South Bank Centre on Sunday 4 September at 13.15. Members of Genesis Sixteen will talk about their experiences on the blog during the course of next week.