A recent concert with the St Alban's Choral Society under George Vass got very nice reviews for Christopher in the Herts Advertiser. The paper's critic wrote of Christopher's contribution to Elgar's anthem Great is the Lord: "The rich baritone voice of Christopher Foster added a suitably Elgarian quality to the performance and provided an oasis of calm reflection in the Andante section", and in Durufle's Requiem that he "conveyed a quiet intensity in his St Michael moment in the Domine Jesu Christe and the fire needed for his short Day of Wrath interjection in the Libera Me... the soloists played their part superbly." Praise indeed. Susanna hopes she will gain similar praise for her forthcoming performance of the Requiem in Hereford Cathedral in November.

Andrew will be back in Buxton this July, for performances of Peter Cornelius' The Barber of Baghdad at the Festival (8th, 11th, 13th, 15th, 20th, 24th). He plays the curmudgeonly old father figure Baba Mustapha, a role for which we are sure his children will say he is to the manner born. In October he will also be at the Royal Opera House, understudying the role of Abbe Chazeuil in Adriana Lecouvreur by Francesco Cilea. The main cast includes Olga Borodina, Jonas Kauffman and Angela Gheorghiu, so if he does get to go on, he will be in equally distinguished company.

Michael is delighted that the waiting is over and his recording for Naxos of Charles Widor's Chansons de Mer and five other previously unrecorded chansons is now out. Accompanied by Jeremy Filsell on the piano, this unknown repertoire is an absolute delight and a must for enthusiasts of French chansons. This CD will be the first in a series. Later discs will include the works of Louis Vierne and Charles Tournemire, when Michael will once again be joined by Jeremy Filsell, Helen Crayford (piano) and Singers Direct's own Claire Seaton, the latter for a charming duet: Dialogue Sacree.

Michael was joined by Susanna at somewhat short notice when Beckenham Chorale's mezzo withdrew from their performance of the Verdi Requiem in May owing to illness. Susanna was delighted to step in and prove once again that Singers Direct can prove a salvation when crisis looms. She was following in the footsteps of Andrew, who was able to save the Chorale's Chorus Master, John Nightingale, from a tricky situation when he needed a tenor at short notice for a concert with very unusual repertoire for a concert with his own choir. John was delighted with Andrew's willingness to take on a considerable challenge that included a commission. Make sure you make SD your first call when you are let down by a soloist; if we can't help personally, we are sure to know someone of equal calibre who can, and haven't failed to come up with a singer yet when required!

Claire, Susanna, Debbie and Michael will soon begin building up their vocal chords in anticipation of a mammoth performance of Mahler's Eighth Symphony, to take place in the Royal Albert Hall in May 2011. The "Thousand" will be made up of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vivace Chorus, the London Symphony Chorus, the London Chorus, the Romsey Choral Society, Tiffin Boys' Choir and the other soloists: Elisabeth Meister, Helen Neeves, Adrian Thompson and Robert Poulton. Jeremy Backhouse, a good friend of Singers Direct will be wielding the baton. .

 More

Jeremy is to travel to Madrid in February to sing the Evangelist in the St Matthew Passion for Adrian Davis and the Madrid Bach Choir. Christopher has also sung for Adrian in the Spanish capital, in a memorable Messiah which you can read about in the news archive section (link to the left of this screen) under the title Christopher Foster and Messiah: 43 Not Out. We hope Jeremy will have a less eventful evening!

Helen's son Inigo and her second daughter Lily (7) enjoyed his first Christmas enormously. He is clearly as good humoured as his mother! Her third child, Helen finds that pregnancy has given an added richness to her voice and that it is growing as rapidly as her family. Good for the career Helen, but don't take it too far...

Claire, Susanna and Michael were delighted with a recent review for their recent performance of the Verdi Requiem with the combined choirs of Portsmouth Choral Union and the Royal Leamington Spa Bach Choir in Portsmouth's Guildhall on October 31st. Mike Allen for The Portsmouth News was clearly enthused...

 More

Susanna was invited by conductor David Gibson and the Croydon Philharmonic Choir to provide vocal coaching for a Saturday workshop they held in the early autumn. This was Susanna's debut in the field, but the choir were generous in both their support and subsequent comments. Needing particular help with French pronunciation before tackling a programme of Faure, they were tickled by some of the tongue twisters Susanna had looked out for them...

 More

Congratulations to both Helen and her husband Daniel on the birth of their son Inigo on 28th July, and Jeremy and his wife Sarah on the arrival of Matilda Jane (see left) on 5th November. Both children should be lulled by terrific lullabies, and grow up knowing every warm-up exercise in the book!

 More