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Gin and a tonic for a cold

World Gin Day couldn't be allowed to pass without our full engagement and so several fine varieties were judged according to age old techniques on Saturday. I cannot quite recall them all. We are all rather too wedded to fine and delicious embellishments at OHP; James is always ready with a new cocktail or three and we are all looking forward to an evening of whisky tasting soon with our abiding principle being to ensure everybody takes a dram with their Britten.

Tonight is all about the Christine Collins Young Artists, several of whom are stepping into the performance of Il barbiere di Siviglia.  It is an exciting evening for Associate Conductor Dane Lam, Associate Director Fiona Williams , Chloë Treharne, Rosanne Havel, Tom Asher, René Bloice-Sanders and Ashley Mercer. They were all brilliant in the stage and orchestra rehearsal I saw recently and it will be lovely to see them performing for a full house tonight. It is an experience we should seek to give our young, talented singers more of in the UK.

My intended trip to Lords to see the final day of the test was curtailed by a heavy cold and as I write this I am laying in bed (a place one doesn't get much time to appreciate during the season). A wee dram at curtain up should help that as well as being a good way to toast our fantastic Young Artists - good luck to them all!

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