The Kings Consort evening at The Manoel was another delightful evening in the Valletta Baroque Festival’s calendar. The stage filled with musicians who all had a bit of Boris Johnson about them; what is it about the profession that makes them all a little (or quite a lot in conductors’ case’) quirky?
The visual effect of their dishevelled cheveaux bobbing and swaying reminded me, as it oft does, of sea anenomes moving rhythmically to the seas deepest current. One violinist caught my eye, her face so beautiful, like the iconic National Geographic Afghanistani woman, it was a shame to have her buried so far back in the ranks.
Lorna Anderson, the soprano, had one of those effortless voices and the choice of music for this concert aptly named– Handel’s Heroins – suited her. There was something cheeky about her, though I bet when she’s walking round Waitrose people think she is a regular jam making housewife. I like to imagine her bursting into song and shocking people with her range in random and regular locations. She had no microphone and absolutely didn’t need one.
