Castalian Quartet at Thurlby church

A longish drive - about 45 minutes each way, but well worth it for a magical evening.

A  brilliant concert at St Firmin's church, Thurlby, near Bourne. 

The first piece the Castalian Quartet played was Haydn's Quartet in D minor, op.76 no 2, a lively playful and very modern sounding piece.

This was followed by Janacek's  Kreutzer Sonata, and Britten's Quartet no 2 in C op.36.

Perfect surroundings, a light airy church, with the evening sunlight streaming through the clerestory windows. 

The organisers provided delicious refreshments in the interval, and there was a lovely atmosphere among the audience. 

It was still light as we left at about 9.30 pm.

More info about the church, and St Firmin:

http://www.greatenglishchurches.co.uk/html/thurlby.html

Thurlby 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thurlby,_South_Kesteven

Billy Budd - Opera North

21 October 2016 at Leeds Grand Theatre.

A great performance by an all-male cast. Striking scenery, stirring music, superb singing. It's a grim tale told as a flashback by a captain with a moral dilemma.  The three main characters, Captain Vere (Alan Oke), Claggart (Alastair Miles) and Billy Budd (Roderick Williams) were excellent, along with the supporting cast and the orchestra. 

I loved the piccolo playing during one of Billy's long arias. 

I thought the performance was magnificent.

Albert Herring on TV

Performed in Rouen. 2009.

Based on a Conte by Guy de Maupassant - 'Le Rosier de Madame Husson'.
Very funny, but of course with serious undertones. Much lighter than Peter Grimes.

Peter Grimes - Britten

NY Met Opera from 2008, televised.

Brilliant scenery, totally in tune with the dark story-line and the powerful music.  Based on the Net-drying sheds at Hastings .

Review in New York Times

More on Peter Grimes as a character from the Independent 2004