Restrictions are starting to ease and the light of the horizon is shining brighter every day. I had my first Covid-19 vaccination this month and I am keeping my fingers crossed that I can squeeze in my second one around my work schedule, which I am so glad to be getting back to, and our wedding. London is starting to get its bustling energy back, as bars, cafes, and restaurants are now welcoming small groups indoors and outdoors. The energy in social areas is buzzing and very positive, you can feel how happy everyone is to be seeing friends and family again. As with nature, sometimes the balance cannot always be maintained, but I think that as a larger community, people on the whole, are trying to be more thoughtful with their social interactions.
George and I had our first professional concert together as a duo last weekend, 12th June 2021. We had the pleasure of performing at a Garden Party in Buckinghamshire. Our wonderful hosts Brian and Alison had bid for the chance of having an opera singer perform at their home after participating in the Waterperry Opera Festival’s Fundraising Gala. What Fun! It was a delight to be involved and together George and I performed a mixed program of Operatic Arias and international art songs with interwoven spoken introductions. We were lucky to have fantastic weather and wonderful company. Our audience was made up of two families and their local neighbours, who were keen opera lovers and excited to learn about the stories, plot twists, characters, the translations, and our lives as musicians. We plan to keep in touch and I hope that we share musical conversations and songs together in the future.
Returning to the idea of balance, I was booked to perform in Devon with Prajna Indrawati at the start of July, just before leaving to join Scottish Opera’s Pop-Up Opera tour. Sadly, the planned events in Devon have been cancelled due to an outbreak of Covid19 at the school, where we were to perform and lead some performance masterclasses. I hope that the students recover soon and that they are able to return to school happy and healthy. I want to say a big thank you to the organisers for keeping us appraised as the situation developed and to Prajna for her time and dedication to learning the program as George was unable to play for me due to a prior engagement. I do hope that Prajna and I will get to perform together in our sparkly evening gowns again soon.
How are you keeping balance in your life at the moment? What changes are you expecting in the coming weeks and what are you looking forward to? I’d like to take this moment to check in with you all and send a huge virtual hug. I am always thankful for your support along my musical journey through life, and I hope that I can return the generosity of good spirit to others, that you extend to me week in and week out. Thank you.
I would like to wish you a Happy Father’s Day to those who celebrate it today. I along with my brothers we want to send a huge thank you to our amazing Dad, who really is one in a million. He goes above and beyond to support each of us with our individual passions and is only ever a phone call away if we need comforting from a dangerous spider in the bathroom or one of his famous superhero power-inducing pep talks. Facetime does not quite do justice to how tightly I would like to squeeze you in a hug, but the time will come! Thanks for all that you do Dad.
