Kristina Hammarstrom at the Barbican, London - WOOOW !!!

Kristina and I go back quite a way. We started breathing together in the early 90's, and we've had a lot of fun since then. Much of her technique, b-b-b's, doggy panting, walnuts(!) etc., especially the brilliant coloratura, was developed when she was invited by Kiri (te K ) to stay in her garden cottage with me - I was 'being useful', driving, restoring antiques, and shopping for Kiri when she returned to the U.K. after a stint as Principal Soprano at The Metropolitan Opera, New York, U.S.A. I had taken early retirement from The Performing Arts Dept. at the University of Birmingham, where I was The Studio Controller.. Last Sunday Kristina 'jumped in' at very short notice to sing "Teseo" in "Arianna in Creto", Handel's little known score, wonderful writing, and almost impossible floridity - happily 'right up Kristina's street' as we put it ..I have never heard anyone achieve so many brilliant notes in such a short time - the audience was electrified by her performance and their ecstatic cheering almost 'took the roof off' - as only a London audience can..standing ovation at the finale! At rehearsal, Christopher Hogwood the conductor, couldn't believe his luck when Kristina agreed to lightning speeds - all very normal for her, but a surprise to the orchestra - they did manage to keep up with her..tee hee hee I had taken a young soprano along - Cheryl Coutinho , potential spinto. "How does Kristina do that?" she asked. "With great skill, application and dermination - not to mention 'attitude'!" Congratulations Kristina - please do 'jump in as often as possible - come along 'in your own right' even...so, to all of you ...k..p b.......g ....