March 9, 2017

Nevers, France

After our show in what I believe is the only Opera House in Europe located in a residential suburb (I’m sure I’ll be pulled up on this claim!) it was only appropriate to journey to the land of Nevers. I’ve never been to Nevers but I hope I return. The audience were fantastic – as warm a reception as our maison in the Salle Gaveau – and enjoyed the range of music presented, from folk songs to French art songs and even some Nonsense. I bet they Neverians (not sure if they refer to themselves in this way…) never expected that. One might go so far as saying it’d never been heard before and may never be heard again!

Looking forward to this weekend as I’ll be in Edinburgh for a wedding of some dear friends of Liz and me. I’m singing Michael Bublé’s Everything so I’ve been working hard to memorise it. It’s a great song and the sentiment is lovely.

It’s a busy time for us all at the moment, juggling home life and work life. We all do our best to please everyone and the next tour is approaching quickly. I’m really looking forward to working with Sabine Meyer, one of the great chamber musicians of our time, a simply world-class clarinetist. Check out her Mozart! It’s a rare treat to share the stage with musicians of her quality and I think the audiences will love the collaboration, one that was recorded many years ago. Check it out if you haven’t already – some great Strauss numbers brought to life through the magic of Bob Chilcott’s arranging skills!

Today I had a wonderful grown-up moment. I must be getting older because it’s about kitchen tiles. After I arrived back in London I went to Hampstead to meet a Kiwi mate for lunch. We studied French together at the University of Canterbury as it turns out…(’Never!’, I hear you say). We ended up having french onion soup, too…(oh the fun I’m having with these French references!). Back to the story. Anyway, I arrived early and noticed that the wonderful shop ‘Fired Earth’, where we have sourced our kitchen tiles from, was directly opposite. 'What were the chances?!’, I said to myself out loud. Now, to give you some important background information. The tiles we like are from a company in Spain that’s gone bust so the tiles have been discontinued. There are a handful around the country in various stores…including Hampstead! You’ve probably guessed where this story is heading. So, I walked in and asked if they had any of the particular colour in stock and, sure enough, they had four! Woohoo! Added to the seven we picked up in Oxford we now have a better range of options to make a mosaic look. The end.

The most exciting thing about this story is that Liz doesn’t know and I don’t think she’ll be able to contain her excitement when we arrive back home on Monday!

Hope you’re all well in your busy lives juggling work and life.

See you soon!