Why do I travel?

Many of you know I have a beloved furry friend who is now a part of my life (so far, the best replacement for Jerry I could find.)

But I am reluctant to leave him unless I have a pretty good chance of experiencing something equally meaningful.

Last December/January I got to experience Nature with a capital N on my trip to New Zealand and the SubAntarctic. (You can link to the blog of that trip on my WordPress site.)

Now I am in London where I have had some thrilling cultural experiences. There’s nothing like a LIVE performance!

The first performance was somewhat serendipitous. After settling in our hotel Linda and I headed out for a walk across the Westminster Bridge. We ambled over to the Westminster Cathedral late in the afternoon. Tours were over for the day but we asked about the Evensong, and sure enough we would only need to queue for less than an hour to attend the service. (Thank you Diane for telling me about this.)

We were ushered into the Quire, got front row seats, and waited for the service to begin.

The two choirs sat opposite one another and their singing was glorious! (Photographs and recordings were not allowed but we managed to snap a few pics. )

The next night we attended a performance of Monteverdi’s Vespers in a church nearby.

This concert was a collaboration between a choir from the College of Cambridge and a London Baroque instrumental ensemble. Singers and instrumentalists not only sang and played on the stage, but performed from the balconies, the side aisles, and the choir loft. Most importantly they were virtuosic and expressive. I was so elated I had a difficult time sleeping that night. (Jet lag might have been a factor too).

The next day we attended a performance of The Dream of Gerontius by Edward Elgar. Edward Elgar, a beloved English composer, is probably best known for his Pomp and Circumstance which is played at most graduation ceremonies. My particular favorite is his Enigma Variations.

This is an ambitious work for full orchestra and choir. It did not disappoint. The soloists and orchestra were excellent and the London Concert Choir, consisting of highly trained nonprofessionals, was impressive.

I have great admiration for the strong choral tradition in the British Isles. When I lived outside London in the 70’s I joined the Watford Philharmonic Society choir and we performed en masse with choirs from the British Isles and Europe for a performance in the Royal Albert Hall.

Don’t tell Bruno that I’m having so much fun.

Best.

Mary