Purcell Room

‘From the perilous billows I was brought safely to shore by my propitious destiny’ was the translation of the first opening recitativo accompagnato of the second vocal piece from the Castrati: Forgotten Voices concert last Monday night at the Purcell Room. Here is a brief description of what had taken place with organizing this concert. Firstly we were going to do a programme of Vivaldi cantata’s with Massimo Mazzeo and Divino Sospiro, than this changed because of programming and Stefano Molardi and I Virtuosi Delle Muse took over to do the updated programme until they received a very important call from New York for the future of VDM so I was left running to the ramparts of a castle to jump off like Tosca until I had a call back from Steven Devine to take over and direct the whole show! I know it sounds pretty dramatic but it is pretty nerve racking when you are two weeks away from the big night and there is no conductor in sight.

What triumph it was to have Steven and Broschi Ensemble to take over and deliver. We had a great rehearsal a few days before and a very long rehearsal on the day of the concert. I’m not really a fan of singing too much on the day of a concert but lately it has been happening at almost all of my concerts and I think I have gotten used to it.

We kicked off with some great music and the night followed with even more amazing music written for Farinelli and his contemporaries. Had such fun singing the words and trying to get the meaning across to the audience. I will no longer bore you all with my opinion on this concert and let you read what Evan Dickerson wrote on his review of Castrati: Forgotten Voices. Before I go I will also like to note how handsome the audience was on the night! Some said it was the best looking audience that they have seen for a long time over at Southbank!