So They Say

This Sunday's rehearsal was in the wonderfully lit hall at the top of the Space. The venue is cavernous, and the late autumn light gave the room a real grandeur, even if you ignore the sprung floors. The recurring issue appears to be with the chairs, or lack thereof, but it sure beats the old system where we had to lug the fold-ups from the basement ourselves. It does mean a bit of a delay, and the poor basses and altos spent a quarter of the rehearsal squatting (see picture, especially of Nath's glamorous silver boots).

As for the rehearsal proper, we ran through most of the repertoire for Paris and some for the winter concert too, performing most of the pieces twice. The first run-through always sounds a little ropey as we settle into the song, but Mladen has taken to making us sing the second one without the sheet music, which brings problems of its own, especially when it comes to the lyrics. Humming Dies Irae to myself several times a day has actually helped to overcome my aversion to it, and I have to say the choir performs it really well now, with a real feeling of aggression with a steady build up to that wonderful orgasm at the end. Under two weeks to go till Paris, so just in time too!

After the rehearsal we went to the pub as usual and a bunch of us then joined Philip G for his birthday celebration at Savoir Faire near the British Museum. Conversation flowed freely and the company was, as always, exceptional. It was great to see "resting" Pinkies there like Ritchie and Iain, and even better to see that some newbies came along too. I sat diagonally opposite Amy, one of the new altos who was summarily pulled away from me by Susan when they went off to karaoke somewhere on Frith Street at the end of the evening. Must speak to her more, she seems totally lovely.