(Post 177)

Categories: uncategorized

Date: 17 June 2002 17:44:00

Saturday

Turned up at Hagley Hall in plenty of time for the rehearsal, and followed other cars around until we gave up trying to find the 'right' car park and settled for the field nearest the exit to enable a quick getaway at the end.

Lots of extras in the band, including some familiar faces, as well as a choir of 300 primary school children, and their barking teacher, Jasper Carrott, Josie Lawrence and Becky Taylor, who is apparently the 'new' Charlotte Church. She looked very sweet with her shiny hair and Claire's Accessories type outfit, and apparently she could be heard perfectly through the speakers. I have no idea what she sounded like though - couldn't hear her from the 3rd desk of the violas.

The audience arrived nice and early and set up amazing picnic tables, hampers, deckchairs etc, and waved their union jacks throughout the proceedings. I think they were bored by the 'real' music though. Mendelssohn's Hebrides overture was a fine excuse for a loo stop and a natter. Mind you - I can see their point to a certain extent.

Jasper Carrott (who does seem to be actually, positively involved with the charity for the concert) told lots of anti Danish football, curry and bacon jokes. I thought he was quite a laugh, although my mother ( who was there for the first half only) was disgusted by his bad language in front of the children. I don't think it helped when I pointed out that children that age use far stronger language in my presence.

So - we didn't get to rehearse 3 of the pieces at all, and there was a somewhat unexpected rendition of the national anthem at the start. Other than that - a nice introduction to the ESO, and I was home before midnight.