10/1/07 - Day 14
Back to Bagel Maven for breakfast - they give you heaps of food for $10! Bacon, eggs, sausages, toast, potatoes - stunning! Then off to hit Broadway shops. Helen Sherman, Huw, Sue and I spent a large amount of time in this cool shop called Antique Orange - Peter, I bought you a present for looking after the house - it really suits you! Huw got pissed off 'cos we were taking so long with shopping - sorry Huw! We looked through a few more shops - so much clothing, and so cheap (compared to Sydney prices, anyway!). I bought a shirt from FCUK. Not much else to report from this day - it was again, very cold, and before we set out on our shopping expedition, we saw snow!
I retired to my room to relax - and listen to some rather cool CDs I bought in London. One stunning disc is the new Christmas Vespers from Westminster Cathedral - http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/details/67522.asp not one I bought, but a belated Christmas present from Jon and Ads - thanks guys - I love it! The Langlais Fête is amazing! Definitely one to republish. I also listened to a great disc of recordings featuring both Mr and Mrs Langlais playing Vierne, one of Duruflé's Tournemire improvisation reconstructions (Victimae Paschali - absolutely first-rate playing), and also Duruflé's Prélude, Adagio et Choral-Varie sur "Veni, Creator".
We congregated in the foyer, to walk together to the Church of the Incarnation on E 29th Street http://www.littlechurch.org/austral.html . When we arrived, their Director of Music was rehearsing her boys choir, so we waited around until that finished before commencing our own rehearsal. Alistair Nelson, our sometime Assistant Organist from Christ Church St Laurence had trained it down from Conneticut to accompany us for our concert - it was great to see him again, and have a little catch-up. Unfortunately, as the church is undergoing extensive renovations, the organ was wrapped up in cling-film, but it could still be played (which was a bit of a curse - I wasn't convinced of its neo-Baroque ability to accompany Howells' Gloucester Service!). We also saw American John for the first time since he'd left Sydney after completing his Fullbright scholarship. Was good to catch up with him also. A number of people were starting to get sick at this stage in the tour - tummy bugs and colds were spreading like wildfire, knocking out a lot of people, but everyone I think managed to rise to the occasion and sing well. Afterwards, we were treated to a reception given by their Vicar, Bp Andrew St John - sometime Bishop of Geelong. He was quite chuffed to have an Australian choir performing in his church. I was tired, although excited, as Sean had flown in from Munich that evening. Yay!
I retired to my room to relax - and listen to some rather cool CDs I bought in London. One stunning disc is the new Christmas Vespers from Westminster Cathedral - http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/details/67522.asp not one I bought, but a belated Christmas present from Jon and Ads - thanks guys - I love it! The Langlais Fête is amazing! Definitely one to republish. I also listened to a great disc of recordings featuring both Mr and Mrs Langlais playing Vierne, one of Duruflé's Tournemire improvisation reconstructions (Victimae Paschali - absolutely first-rate playing), and also Duruflé's Prélude, Adagio et Choral-Varie sur "Veni, Creator".
We congregated in the foyer, to walk together to the Church of the Incarnation on E 29th Street http://www.littlechurch.org/austral.html . When we arrived, their Director of Music was rehearsing her boys choir, so we waited around until that finished before commencing our own rehearsal. Alistair Nelson, our sometime Assistant Organist from Christ Church St Laurence had trained it down from Conneticut to accompany us for our concert - it was great to see him again, and have a little catch-up. Unfortunately, as the church is undergoing extensive renovations, the organ was wrapped up in cling-film, but it could still be played (which was a bit of a curse - I wasn't convinced of its neo-Baroque ability to accompany Howells' Gloucester Service!). We also saw American John for the first time since he'd left Sydney after completing his Fullbright scholarship. Was good to catch up with him also. A number of people were starting to get sick at this stage in the tour - tummy bugs and colds were spreading like wildfire, knocking out a lot of people, but everyone I think managed to rise to the occasion and sing well. Afterwards, we were treated to a reception given by their Vicar, Bp Andrew St John - sometime Bishop of Geelong. He was quite chuffed to have an Australian choir performing in his church. I was tired, although excited, as Sean had flown in from Munich that evening. Yay!
posted by Daniel at 6:21 am
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