Monteverdi

Today was all about getting to tonight's concert in Derby Cathedral; a reversal of meals (main meal at lunchtime, very odd for us) so that Dad was sufficiently fuelled and watered betimes, which meant a morning cooking, unusual for me.

It was so worth the effort. I'd booked the tickets ages ago, before Dad's visit was organised, but LH nobly went and sat in a Sports Bar with the rugby (it really wasn't that much of a sacrifice!) and Dad and I went to the concert. The Monteverdi Vespers of 1610 is (are?) one of my most favourite works anyway, but The Sixteen's performance was transcendental, uplifting ... all those words and more. I had my eyes closed for most of the time - emotional overload. I really couldn't bear it finishing. And, best of all, Dad was blown away too, and he's heard it on numerous occasions.

Derby Cathedral was a surprise. There is no view of the main body of the building as you enter through the West door under your standard mediaeval massive tower. And then, surprise! You're in a beautiful Georgian expanse of space, all cream elegance with gilded outlines and a wonderful, delicate tracery of wrought iron and gold forming the rood screen. Beyond this the altar stands within a canopy of cream and gold. The plain lines really appeal to me, and of course, the acoustics were amazing. Dad (who spent much of his professional life researching acoustics) was very pleased!

All in all my (and his) perfect experience!

This is one of a series of concerts of the Vespers that The Sixteen are performing countrywide. They may well be on near you!!

Wandering around in the interval, I saw a memorial to Florence Nightingale whose family had Derbyshire connections (extra). Bess of Hardwick, that frighteningly redoubtable female, and her Cavendish descendants are all here too, filling up a crypt.

The extras give you a sense of the cathedral. The mediaeval church, but not the tower, was knocked down and the new church built in 1725. No reason is given on any blurb I've found - perhaps the old structure was unsafe. It was the parish church for centuries but was elevated to cathedral status in 1927 when the new see of Derby was created. Apparently, the tower houses the oldest ring of 10 bells in the world too.

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