Philip Ledger

1 Commentconductors, news, writings on music
Every year in King’s Chapel, Cambridge there is a Founder’s concert when former choral scholars in the famous choir (in my day known loosely as “the chaps”) are invited to return to the college and sing with the current choir. Extra trebles and a few sopranos are roped in as well in case the balance becomes too bottom heavy, and the repertoire is large-scale, with a good student orchestra to accompany. Afterwards, there’s a dinner in Hall. It’s an excuse for a reunion and a chance to rekindle the old lags’ connection with a period in their lives when, as very young adults, they were part of an ensemble of extraordinary professional standards; an ensemble that during seven services a week, as well as numerous tours and recordings, strives to set a standard by which choral singing throughout the entire world is measured. …

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More old stuff

1 Commentopera, singers, writings on music
Here’s another piece I started cobbling together ten years ago. I’m not sure why – it wasn’t for a specific publication – and I never finished it, but in the light of ENO’s newest UNDRESS campaign to get more young people through its doors, it seemed particularly pertinent to post it now. Don’t get me wrong; I love it when young people “get” opera but every young person I have ever known understands all too well when they’re being patronised. And besides, I was at ENO a couple of nights and the audience was peppered with young people who are passionate about the medium. The fact is that box office takings are down and any old publicity stunt will do in a storm, which I would think is the main engine under the UNDRESS campaign.
Oh, and yes, I see I make yet another analogy with food……

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Old news

1 Commentopera, singers, writings on music

A decade or so ago I used to write the odd column for Private Eye. I wasn’t the only contributor writing about music and opera so don’t go delving into the archives and think that I was behind any and every story that was being published. Chances are it was someone else. And don’t go asking me whether I wrote such-and-such and article about so-and-so because I’m simply not going to tell you. …

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