Jessica Dean and Anthony Hunt

Well, not quite yet - but almost; on March 19th!

It was this time last year the Cathedral Choir were furiously practicing all the Wedding music (and there was quite a lot, of course!), while we were putting the finishing touches on the masses of organisation that is a wedding…

Please click HERE, or up on the Wedding Anniversary tab, to view some of our favourite photos from the day.

No, it’s not some sort of occult seance; it’s a play! Master Class by Ameican playwright Terrence McNally is an intruiging look into the later life of the ultimate diva, Maria Callas, and into her views on art, performance, singing and her career.

Rob Croser and Independent Theatre are doing a one-off play reading of this brilliant play. The best bit is, not only does Jessica get to sing, playing nervous student Sophie de Palma, but Anthony gets to play the piano, in the role of accompanist Manny Weinstock! And, not only that, we’ll be thrilled to be performing alongside actress Kathryn Fisher (Jess’s mum!) in the role of La Divina herself! So, a bit of a family affair! Also appearing will be soprano Johanna Allen, and actor Shedrick Yarkpie, and glorious recordings of Maria Callas.

More info on the Independent Theatre website, or HERE.

Have just come across this remarkable story that has been breaking in the music industry over the past weeks: It appears that almost the entire recorded output of the much-vaunted pianist Joyce Hatto are in fact fakes - recordings by other famous pianists, slightly stretched or tweaked so as to appear to have different timings. An amazing story of fabrication - at the heart of which appears to be a rather sad tale of a dying woman’s battle with cancer.

More here and here!

Who ever said classical music was boring!

Well, it has certainly been a busy weekend!

The Rae Cocking Memorial Concert was a very special pleasure. 23 singers (almost all students of Rae) and 3 pianists on the Elder Hall stage celebrating the life and music of Rae. The recordings of her singing are particularly special - these much of the audience had not heard before; what a voice! It was a very moving tribute, and I hope the organisers have been successful in their goal to establish a scholarship fund in Rae’s name.

The Phillip Glass rehearsals are in full swing - Satyagraha should open successfully on Tuesday evening! It’s hard to see much of the stage from the position of the keyboards, but the set and costumes are striking, and the chorus is sounding great, so should be good!

Jess is meanwhile busily rehearsing Merry Widow with Co*Opera, which should prove to be a delightful performance of what is a very silly but charming piece. The heat is getting to us both - all rehearsals seem twice as long when it’s 40 Celsius!

Meanwhile, a quick alert to an unusual event coming soon; Anthony and Jessica will be appearing with Independent Theatre late in March with a reading of a very special play…. but…. more on that later!