The last four days of “BIF 21” are as packed and vibrant as at anytime during this year’s Festival.
Last night, I treated myself to a decent stalls seat at the Opera House for Malcolm Arnold’s one act opera, The Dancing Master. This was apparently commissioned by the BBC in the 1950s, but dismissed as bawdy, and presumably shelved, maybe until such time as Buxton Festival got hold of it! I am now informed that this was a three way collaboration with The Barbican and The Edinburgh Festival, as well as Buxton Festival. Being much nearer to the sidetitle screens made following the performance much easier, and thus more enjoyable, even if the music was mainly quite challenging.
We have lost the “Singaporean summer” and today feels quite a bit cooler. I attended a recital for trombone and piano, given by two virtuoso instrumentalists at the top of their game. I learned that it was possible to produce chords (and other weird sounds) on a trombone. This event was followed unexpectedly by “champagne” or fruit juice. This time, water was to hand and was thus I was able to join other audience members for a short while.
Saturday 24th July
This morning was grey gloomy and much cooler, just what one expects of a North Derbyshire summer. However, it wasn’t miserable all day; Helius did make occasional guest appearances with backing from bits of blue sky. For the penultimate day of the Festival, I attended two events at St. John’s, a cello and piano recital, and a sung unaccompanied concert late this afternoon, of music spanning several centuries, and even a rendition of Cliff Richard’s Summer Holiday. I decided against seeing A Little Night Music for the third and final time; instead I am waiting for a curry which tonight, I am having at home. The restaurant is packed and the staff very busy indeed. And it looks as if my order is way down on the list. I do hope I don’t get “pinged” as a result of waiting here while people come and go!
Tomorrow’s Festival Mass at St. John’s is the final event of this year’s B.I.F.
Sunday 25th July
The setting of this morning’s final Festival Mass was to music composed by Thomas Luis de Victoria 1548 – 1611. There was something familiar about this; I am sure I have written about him in a previous blog. The Buxton Madrigal Singers were, as usual, wonderful, and their singing made for a veritable act of worship. For the first time since March 2020, the congregation was allowed to sing. And, I have yet to be “pinged.” Don’t ask me to explain; just Google “Pingdemic”. I was thus still required to operate the mixing desk, which seemed to insure adequately clear sound.
After the service, a “post mass coffee!” and then, lunch over the road at Roger’s, prior to a trek through more neck-high undergrowth towards Chelmorton. The start of today’s walk seemed to be along a former farm track flanked by almost parallel stone walls on each side. While an authorised footpath, it was very overgrown, no longer in use as a farm track, presumably for access to adjacent fields, but also very little used as a footpath.
Eventually we arrived in time for tea at the Church Inn at Chelmorton, a village I like increasingly with each visit. Afterwards, we tried to find the grave of a mutual friend whose funeral we attended at the Parish Church of St. John the Baptist. We were unsuccessful.
We walked back to the car the way we had walked last week, but in the opposite direction, past where there was a field of hay, baled in the old fashioned way. All had gone, by now.
Soon, we were driving home with the roof down. It had turned into an extremely nice day!
Many thanks for reading, David, 20.03hrs 25/7/21.
David's Cruise 