January 22, 2019

Moscow, Russia

Well, what a week it has been! We have performed three sell out concerts in France, qualified as first aiders after successfully completing a St John’s Ambulance training course, and travelled nearly 1800 miles in the process. 

On a less positive note, I experienced the effects of tear gas while desperately looking for a gluten-free supper in Toulouse when I stumbled across some riots, and have already lost my tie, realising only minutes before our call to the Opéra de Vichy stage. Luckily, Pat came to my rescue, only in relation to the latter!

I have so enjoyed performing to you, and my fellow King’s Singers have been wonderfully supportive during this first week in the job. The smiles we’ve received from our audiences in response to our music have been a real boost. 

Today we head to Russia to perform in Moscow and meet a local choir tomorrow. I don’t think I have ever travelled to anywhere as cold, so I’ve packed my thermals! We will be singing a new two-part commission by Alexander Levine called I am all alone on the road. Levine interprets the poem of the same name, initially in Russian and then in English. It was inspiring to work with him in rehearsal last week, and I was grateful for his help in brushing up my Russian pronunciation. 

If you’d like a sneak preview of our Moscow programme, check out our Facebook page where we have posted a video of us singing the sublime Otche Nash (Our Father) by Nikolai Kedrov.