A few weeks ago I played for The National Festival Orchestra for their concert in Harrogate. I’ve performed with this orchestra for many years and it’s always lovely to be invited back for another concert.

We were accompanying Harrogate Choral Society and the programme was very varied indeed.

The Playlist

Eric Whitacre – Leonardo Dreams of his Flying Machine

Vivaldi – Four Seasons

Cecilia McDowall – Da Vinci Requiem

The only piece with a harp part was the McDowall, in the second half of the concert. I decided to sit in and watch the first half and the pre-concert talk with Cecilia herself. The Whitacre was a really interesting piece that I hadn’t heard before. I love when a choir uses their voices in unusual ways that the audience isn’t expecting. The violin soloist for the Vivaldi was fantastic, her name is Sara Trickey and if you get a chance to see her, definitely go.

The McDowall is one of those great pieces where the parts aren’t particularly difficult, but they are very effective and every part comes across. The harp is an easy instrument to cover up completely if too much is going on. Not in this piece. I got some lovely feedback that the harp came across really well, and that is a real compliment to the skill of the composer.

The Day as a Harrogate harpist

I was needed for the first half of the rehearsal, and the second half of the concert. This meant I had a long break in between, in which to amuse myself as a Harrogate harpist around town. I was planning to go on an epic walk as I’m trying to get my steps in at the moment. However, it was pouring with rain pretty much all day, as well as being really cold for this time of year. Despite the rain I spent an hour wandering around the beautiful Valley Gardens in Harrogate.

All in all, it was a lovely day and a successful concert. I love a 7pm concert start as it means I get home to my husband and baby a little bit earlier.

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