Thalben-Ball

Philharmonia Chorus newsletter 1982 mentions cathedrals where we had sung

A highlight of 1982 was Julius Caesar at the Coliseum with Janet Baker superb and Valerie Masterson. Waiting for |Denis at the Whitehall was excellent. Of course these were the Thatcher years. When I arrived in 1973 we had the 3 day week under Ted Heath and we once were sent to the basement at Putney to move stock with candles! Health and Safety would have done their nut and the union were unimpressed to say the least. The point was that the library closed but we had to stay at work! Once the council started cutting jobs I was convinced never to vote for the Tories. I did go on strike at Balham joined by Jane Allen who later became management! I record attending the last night of the Proms for the first time - Dad organised that several times and Liz had of course been a lot and helped with the prommers' flowers. On one occasion I was singing lustily behind the chorus and a BBC chorus soprano said how well I sang and I should join. I replied "I am in the Philharmonia chorus". We were very faithful to the choir for so long! Of course we had the best of everything - superb conductors, soloists, free trips, a concert nearly every month, recordings (not much fun). The down side was rehearsal twice a week and the runup to the concert which could be exhausting and meant juggling hours at work. Saw Penelope Keith in "Moving" at the Queen's. We used to get free tickets brought to the library. We went to see Laurence in Gypsy Baron at Stanley Halls -  the band were terrible, In January I was auditioned for a tenor post at the Temple by Thalben-Ball. I missed him so went to his flat. The actual audition was at St Michael's. There was no vacancy! I remember him playing at the Albert Hall and saying Bach was like good British beef. Years later he also played at St Jude's Thornton Heath on the organ he had opened 50 years before. That organ went to Carlo Curley as the church went happy clappy.

Dec 19th 1982 St Margaret's seven lessons and carols with Revd Dr Eric Young and All Saints concert band directed by Peter Browning. John Welsman is also listed as an organist. Maybe this was so that I could sing the solo in Darke "In the bleak midwinter". On a later occasion David Smith went at his own tempo in Three kings by Cornelius and I avoided disaster as the choir had learnt it at my speed. 

Paul Jennings in 1982 brochure for the chorus anniversary

Rockmount school at St Margaret's 15/12/82 this was the night Liz went into hospital

1980

Tom did all our electrics. I played a Hungarian hymn at the funeral

At Louise's wedding 2007

Wedding day! 

The year began with a RSCM evensong at Chichester cathedral. I think the organ broke down but we continued! An evening with Queen Victoria at the Old Vic featured Prunella Scales and Ian Partridge. Years later I issued Prunella her freedom pass at the library! We began to go to Chorus again the Missa and Beethoven 9. Maazel conducted the Missa. We went to  St Mary Cray for a good concert featuring a viola and Fr Farmer. M and D celebrated 40th wedding anniversary. March 22. Clare Kedves delivered Louise and later Bruce and was a great support for Liz feeding the babies. In those days the Maundy service was broadcast on radio and it was from Worcester cathedral. Our colour TV came on April 3. April 26 went to see Laurence Irvine in New Moon at Stanley Halls - I later worked with him at Earlsfield library. Tall and gangly and always nice. He married at Trinity church Tooting -  at Trinity church I met my doom he would say and they had a daughter. Years later he was mugged for his wedding ring. May 7 first swimming lesson with Dennis and enjoyed it. This was the spur to learn and I had absolute trust in Julie Smith. She had been an Olympic swimmer in Melbourne Olympics and I went every week to Crystal Palace to learn. Even saw Duncan Goodhew training! We regularly went to Oxford Gardens or Mum and Dad came over. Sang in Lobgesang - Muti was ill so Adam Fischer stepped in. He was excellent. In July to Boscombe with trips to Romsey Abbey, Broadlands, Marwell zoo. July 19 Rosemary and Lyn Callan got married. We knew Lyn from St John Ambulance at the hall and had been to his Earlsfield home for dinner. Brendan came from Hobart and we took him to Greenwich and into Kent looking for oast houses. He is an architect. In September we went to Basle to sing Mahler 8. Charles Spencer had convinced the promoter that we could manage both choruses and we did it! We stayed on a boat on the river and visited the zoo and art gallery. Boat trip on Rhone and up the Jura. In October I was one of the lucky ones who sang Judas Maccabeus at La Scala, Milan with Mackerras. The locals did not like this English choir appearing and insisted that there had to be a gap between the rows for the safety curtain! Visited Isola Bella and Lake Como. Oct 18 to Christ in Croydon and my group was good.

 Basle