I performed Vivaldi’s Gloria (RV 589) and Handel’s ‘Eternal Source of Light Divine’ from the Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne (HWV 74) at Snape Maltings on Saturday 11 November 2023. The performance featured the wonderful Aldeburgh Music Club (choir) and was directed by Tom Appleton.

The all-Vivaldi first half began with Ostro picta, armata spina (RV 642) and continued with his most famous Gloria, which featured the sublime oboe playing of Gail Hennessy. The vocal soloists, Elenor Bowers-Jolley (soprano), Jillian Bain Christie (soprano), and Diana Moore (mezzo-soprano) were fantastic.

I played ‘Eternal Source of Light Divine’ in C with Jillian Bain Christie (soprano) to open the second half, which continued with a performance of Handel’s Dixit Dominus (HWV 232).

It was wonderful to perform in Suffolk, and I tied the trip in with some trumpet bell making at David Staff’s workshop on route.