I'm very excited about the opportunity to perform with the Tallis Scholars later this week.
I'm one of 30 singers recruited from around Dublin to join the choir in the performance of the 40-part piece Spem in Alium by Thomas Tallis.
I've only sung Spem in Alium once in the past, as part of a scratch performance put together for my 40th birthday. Because, what else would you do for a 40th birthday, but get together all of your singer friends and sing a 40-part anthem? It wasn't the most technically accurate performance in the world (I, for one, was making tons of mistakes), but it was a heck of a lot of fun – and if you fancy watching the video, stay for the amazing rendition of Happy Birthday at the end!
The prospect of singing such a piece with the Tallis Scholars, in contrast, is a pretty intimidating. They are one of the best professional choirs out there, and tour all over the world to sell out audiences. And I've volunteered to sing – one to a part – so there's no hiding at the back!
I'm sure it'll go very well. The rehearsal last week was sounding really good, and I came out of that really excited.
The concert takes place on Thursday, 5th October 2017 at 8.00pm in the National Concert Hall, Dublin. There are some tickets left – although not many – from the NCH website: https://www.nch.ie/Online/The-Tallis-Scholars-05Oct17
I’m massively disappointed to report that I’m not going to be able to sing with the Tallis Scholars tonight. I’ve lost my voice.
I’ve tried everything over the last couple of days to salvage my voice. I even stopped talking altogether for about half a day, but nothing has helped. If anything I woke this morning to discover my singing voice got even worse.
To say that I’m gutted is an understatement. Not only because of the missed opportunity but because I feel I’m letting everyone else down.