Arthur's Seat (before Purcell)

So, our Victoria and Padilla concert went down well in Edinburgh last Friday evening. Can't remember when I last heard Victoria whooped - at least this bodes well for our all-Victoria programme on next year's Choral Pilgrimage, when we mark the 400th anniversary of his death.

A larger group go up to Edinburgh this evening for Purcell's Indian Queen tomorrow at the Usher Hall, with a great team of soloists: Gillian Keith, Katherine Manley, Robin Blaze, John Mark Ainsley, Allan Clayton and Roderick Williams.

Not sure what it is about The Sixteen and walking, but, having only recently completed the Choral Pilgrimage, several of the choir plan to tackle Arthur's Seat in the monring.

Puebla meets Edinburgh

Not blogged from the BlackBerry before, so I hope this works. Just an hour until our first concert at this year's Edinburgh International Festival. Padilla and Victoria. Long sold out, but there are still a few seats left for our Purcell Indian Queen here next Tuesday. We have a 5-strong continuo section today with two theorbos, harp, dulcian and organ. So, a spectacular hour coming up in, as it were, Puebla Cathedral!

A final word..........

A final word from the Wife of Bath (himself) on the BBC Music Magazine's blog.

Wife of Bath completes Walk

And so, The Sixteen's Choral Pilgrimage Charity Walk comes to an end. Welcomed by the Dean of Canterbury and with a short ceremony at Thomas à Becket's memorial, followed by a splendid lunch, the core team of walkers were joined yesterday by some 12 other supporters of The Sixteen. Countertenor Ian Aitkenhead had canvassed opinion on which of the Chaucer's pilgrims he should dress up as for the final leg, and, perhaps not surprisingly, the Wife of Bath won the vote.

Yuo can still donate to the two charities The Sixteen has been supporting: World Vision and the Save Canterbury Cathedral appeal. If you would like to sponsor the walk go to our special Just Giving pages: World Vision and Canterbury Cathedral.

Tribute to Alfred Deller

The Choral Pilgrimage Charity Walk paused at All Saints' Church in Boughton Aluph yesterday, where the walkers were greeted by Mark Deller, son of the great countertenor Alfred Deller, who is buried in the churchyard. Three of The Sixteen's regular countertenors were there (Christopher Royall, Ian Aitkenhead and David Clegg) and, for them in particular, there was a poignant moment when the assembled company sang Purcell's Thou Knowest Lord around Deller's grave. The Walk reaches its destination at Canterbury Cathedral early this afternoon: we in the office will be heading off soon to greet them.