Now that autumn is beginning, the British weather seems to have woken up to summer at last. I’ve had a busy August, driving through France on quiet roads with spectacular scenery, lovely concerts in St. Lizier with the Quatuor Schumann, and in Prades with Michel  Lethiec and some other great musicians from all over the world. Thank you to all the warm and friendly people who made the trips such a delight. After Prades, I gave a recital with Maciej Pikulski in the middle of France, at the Abbaye de Fontmorigny, in memory of a friend who lived nearby. It was marvellous to explore some less well-known – at least to me – parts of this great country.

 Then I gave a recital with Graham Johnson in the Schubertiade at Schwarzenberg: a really serious Lieder recital for once, with no letting-hair-down-operetta at the end- quite a challenge! After that, we went on to give the first recital of a new Chamber Music Festival in Schloss Girsberg- a beautiful place again, and more wonderfully generous  people. In between the two recitals, we enjoyed three blissfully restful, sunny days in a beautiful place nearby –that was my holiday!

I’m almost back at work now, rehearsing for concerts with Ann Murray again which is a great treat, and for a programme in Paris with the Quatuor, as well as a birthday recital at the Wigmore Hall with Angela Hewitt- Angela’s birthday!

On Friday I went to a performance of ‘Flight’ (Jonathan Dove) by BYO in London- absolutely brilliant. Congratulations to all concerned. I am so proud to be in a small way associated with BYO who put on consistently superb performances. After the performance, we presented the first Basil Turner award for opera to Meeta Raval who played Magda in ‘La Rondine’.

Now I must go and learn some songs...  FL