Arriving at my first concert at Gloucester was exciting and was all made very easy. We had a quick rehearsal and warm up in the space and then had a quiet time in the green room before being greeted by Adrian Partington and introduced to the large and appreciative- and dare I say erudite audience,

My nerves were not for my singing, I had a superb accompanist in Derek Harris, absolutely superb, and no worries at all there. Yet it was some time since I had done a full blown recital, and my worry was remembering all the very many words that an hour's recital entails.

I had a long rehearsal on Tuesday afternoon with coach Jeanette Mascocchi and particularly working on the Obradors Song and Britten's 'Fish in the Unruffled Lakes' from Britten's 'On this Island'. Counting was difficult here as the music was so liquid, but I was so pleased it was perfect at the recital.Perhaps the many mistakes I made when learning it put me on my mettle!  The giant Chaucer text of the Wife ofBath prologue was also a challenge. The recital went by too quickly-it was enormous enjoyment for us. The music making was fun and it was so wonderful that the erudite audience were so appreciative. One gentleman wanted a Schubert Concert in future, but I think it was quite a good mix! Driving back down to a date in Wales afterwards, I felt happy and content.