Some Enchanted Music Festival

Boy did I hear some great singing ! It was the only festival in the last year where I was absolutely driven to give 4 90's and 1 91 ! Usually I manage one or two at the most marks of 90 or above, but if the standard is that outstanding, then performers must be rewarded, otherwise if makes a nonsense of the lower catagory marks.

So what stood out ? So many performances if I am honest.

I heard a young 19 year old boy tenor who clearly has his sights set on a career in musical theatre but seems to be going about it the safest way and getting himself a good classical technique on which to build his future. He took complete control of the stage and drew us into his musical world. I was moved by his Negro Spiritual 'Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen', and equally moved by a cathedral worthy 'Panis Angelicus', but when he came to his 'Some Enchanted Evening' I was bowled over. The sheer insight into this music, the way he caressed us all with both the sound and himself, was astonishing for one so young.

I also heard a super talented young soprano who hushed the room to the point of freezing us in time when she sang one of my all time favourite songs, 'The Cherry Hung with Snow' by Colin Ross. The perfect line she sang with, just hung in the air, and the final verse, sung at nano ppp was magical.

There were some character classes for the little ones, and I was quite taken with a young half Spanish 8 year old who sang a most touching 'Feed the Birds' by Mary Poppins !! She really was the original Supernanny I think!

I do love it when young people announce their own songs - it is such an important part of learning how to perform, but the standards vary from an inaudible grunt from a 14 year old boy who clearly does not want to be there, and an old amateur / pro, who gives you the history of the song, the composers' life and the colour of the socks he was wearing at the moment of composition! All good clean fun!

Another performance by a rather elderly gentleman was most moving, and he could have taught a thing or two to some of the super league teenagers, in terms of focus and depth of feeling. He sang 'It is Enough' from Mendelssohn's oratorio, Elijah, and vocally it was worthy of the best stage in the land, as well as lifting us up with his honest and heart warming performance.

There were so many other fine moments, a simply gorgeous 'The Singer', sung by a petite 16 year old who soared to the top notes and then let the song fade like a very old water colour painting, a Quilter 'Fair House of Joy' sung by a 13 year old girl with a voice the size of Bournemouth, and such sensitivity I could hardly write.

It was a blessed couple of days musically, and to round it all off we were accomodated in a Hilton Hotel, sheer luxury..................it is usually a good B&B !

Off to Hastings later and another few days writing, listening and thinking for all I am worth!

Basingstoke will be hard to beat though.