Day of the Concert

Mon Tip: Think of a giant rhododendron opening up for the Amen molto cresc.

We had a runthrough with the organist, Gareth Perkins. He played very well (in spite of a poorly wrist), but it's a big Edwardian sort of organ and rather ponderous, which unsettled me a little in the Purcell, being not at all the Right Sort of Sound.

The nice old lady who had requested the Hallelujah Chorus phoned up to ask "They are going to sing the Hallelujah Chorus, aren't they?" to which the church adminperson replied "They will if you clap enthusiastically".

Some of the audience looked rather unmoved by the first few pieces, but the Sandstrom not only woke them up but elicited an "mmmm" sound, surprised but appreciative. They loved the Shakespeare set, and we really swung the dreaded Rutter. And then of course the encore... Handel at full blast :)

When Gareth took his bow, he acknowledged the organ. Nice touch!

And then the post-gig party. Amazing how rowdy a group of musos can get on a successful gig and a dozen bottles of wine (between about 30 people including groupies and guests and not including Kit and me, who were drinking some very very good M&S organic pressed apple juice). We sang most of the programme again - and the clearly pissed basses even started up the Sandstrom, but we all ended up in different bars and fell about laughing, so Hans and Sebastian sang I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside instead. With a little dance.
George Humphrey came to the party and met Jenny the local organiser, who has a collection of >200 teddy bears. She was most impressed with him.

I cried during Blei Bei Uns and so did Manfred, although he says that one always makes him cry - for me, it was the realisation that we'd come to the end and it was time to say goodbye to a wonderful group of people and a week full of music.