What a treat I had yesterday evening! Who should deign to descend upon Paris but the inimitable, insurpassable, incandescent King's Singers (whom I might have mentioned before)? And who should see fit to conjure up two tickets to see them at the Salle Gaveau but my friend Edward, who teaches lycéens in Reims, who blogs here and the excess of whose generosity defies comprehension?
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| Five King's Singers at the Salle Gaveau |
The members of the King's Singers have changed over the decades (none of the founders remain), but the composition, the superlative musicianship and the jokes remain the same. The present singers are:
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| The King's Singers take a bow |
David Hurley (countertenor).
Timothy Wayne-Wright (countertenor).
Paul Phoenix (tenor).
Christopher Bruerton (baritone).
Christopher Gabbitas (baritone).
Jonathan Howard (buttery biscuit bass).
We made our roundabout way to the 8e arrondissement and arrived in time to digest the news that David Hurley, being ill (though recovering), was not able to perform. The remaining five presented a much-changed programme, which took us from various arrangements of the Lord's Prayer (including, gloriously, Duruflé's (not sung here by KS)), to a panorama of Baltic music, to lively Spanish Renaissance songs. They introduced all their music in French, and Paul Phoenix's heroic and fearless efforts reminded me how this business of speaking a foreign language ought to be done!
After the interval came lighter and more modern music ('un oeuvre résolument de saison'). For example (albeit now with some members now replaced):
and
As if being the best a cappella group known to mankind were not enough, the King's Singers always like to meet their audience after the concert. We managed to speak to and obtain the autographs of four of the five (Timothy Wayne-Wright fled in terror). Christopher Bruerton recommended a restaurant which it will be my solemn duty to try out! And then an entire choir which had come to hear the concert burst into song in the foyer.
How uplifting it was to hear fine musicians, who are also content to be decent fellows, in effortlessly civilised France, and in the company of a good and generous friend and (needless to say) fellow fan!
P.S. It is worth mentioning that, when I published the post below, I was completely oblivious to what was in the pipe-line...
After the interval came lighter and more modern music ('un oeuvre résolument de saison'). For example (albeit now with some members now replaced):
and
.
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| Christopher Gabbitas |
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| Christopher Bruerton |
How uplifting it was to hear fine musicians, who are also content to be decent fellows, in effortlessly civilised France, and in the company of a good and generous friend and (needless to say) fellow fan!
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| Christophers Bruerton and Gabbitas, Jonathan Howard and Paul Phoenix woz 'ere. |
1 comment:
The jokes remain the same? After 40 years? That must get a bit boring after a while for the members ... Oh, and for the benefit of the Internet, it should be said that you're not overstating how great they were! Your praise is utterly deserved.
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