You may have wondered where I am with a lot of Swedish references - yes, I AM in Stockholm . Today is Good Friday in the U.K., (alliteration of Godfriday), Long Friday in Sweden, and I was invited to a service in Brevik Church, Lidingo, lead by the Rev. Ingegard Hakanson Nilsson, incorprorating the Pergolesi Stabat Mater - written when he was twenty three years old. Such a tragedy that he died three years later... This is a favourite piece for me, having sung it many times over the years. It never ceases to fill me with the emotion of the occasion, and lifts the spirit beyond the cares of everyday life. As created today, with a double ladies choir from Brevik and Bodals churches... Oh , how delightful to hear such uncomplicated, pure singing, from the heart. The music was directed by an inspiring lady, Ingrid Damstedt Holmberg, who drew such wonderful sounds from the choir, string quintet, and two superb soloists, Elisabeth Haglund, soprano, and Anita Weinius, mezzo-soprano - what a surprise to find such a fine performance almost next door to where I am staying ! Congratulations all round - and no, I didn't hear anyone breathe , I just knew they were breathing because of the quality in the music they made.....Now I can confess that I was in tears many times.. it was so moving, with brilliant spring sunshine blazing in and filling the church with celestial light...
- perfect....One of the most surprising aspects of the afternoon was that the psalm singing, by the whole congregation, was unaccompanied by any instrument - an unknown experience in the U.K......and it was always in tune and time - amazing.....
Tomorrow I go to see Verdi's "Falstaff" at The Stockholm Royal Operea - one of my favourite haunts - as the guest of soprano Hillevi Martinpelto, another "brilliant breather" - the way she "floats" her voice into ravishingly beautiful phrases - I could listen all night and never tire of it ......toi,toi, toi, Hillevi.....here's to your "Marschallin" in "Der Rosenkavalier" sooooon..... keep breathing Dear Readers....be inspired.....
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