Last autumn, together with pianist David Vaamonde López, Emma recorded Jannum Kruidhof‘s new mass for mezzo-soprano and piano. The videos have been edited and released. Do please take a moment to listen to it! This beautiful setting of the mass ordinary shows the innovative lyricism of Kruidhof’s music: it’s both fresh and accessible. Emma was honoured to record the composition and work with this exciting young composer.
Emma was honoured to join the Dutch military delegation at the International Military Pilgrimage in Lourdes, France, and to support their worship and the international worship through her singing. Around ten thousand military personnel were present in Lourdes from across the globe, including delegations from Ukraine, Côte d’Ivoire, and Tahiti. Emma sang during the evening light parade as well as during Mass. The event was coordinated by the Apostolat Militaire International.
The Dutch hold their national remembrance day on 4th May, the day before most of the country was liberated from the Nazi occupation in 1945. This year, a group of UK veterans, many of whom fought in the Netherlands, visited thanks to the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans. Emma was delighted to join them on a river boat cruise and to sing during a small remembrance ceremony as the boat paused alongside the mound of the Grebbeberg War Cemetery. Veteran Tom Schaffer, a paratrooper who was part of Operation Market Garden, laid a wreath in the river.
Some words must be said about the wonderful Taxi Charity. It is run by volunteer London black cab drivers and has been supporting thousands of veterans of all ages since 1948. The charity arranges free trips to the Netherlands, Belgium, and France, for acts of commemoration and days out to museums, concerts, or fundraising events in the UK, to catch up with friends and comrades. The veterans travel by taxi, meaning they have wheelchair access and their own driver. It is a wonderful, caring organization and please do consider supporting them if you have the means.
The Veterans’ Institute works together with the Dutch defense forces and politicians to support veterans and raise awareness of the challenges they face. It is a wonderful organization. Emma was delighted to sing for them on 1st May in a joyful concert together with the Band of Liberation under conductor Simon Dubbelaar. Hans Dubbelaar also performed as a soloist, on both trumpet and bagpipes.
Emma spent an intense afternoon in Studio Artichoque recording two new arrangements for the next album of the symphonic rock band SHM, Simple Harmonic Motion.
SHM’s last album, Fantasia, was released just before the lockdowns in 2020, with presentation concerts in the Netherlands and France, including the opening concert of the series planned to mark 800 years of Amiens cathedral. Do take a moment to listen to it, for example on Spotify or Apple Music.
Here is a video from Fantasia:
©Tully Potter Collection
Emma will visit Italy to sing as a guest soloist with soprano Sabine Kirsten, and Holland Concert Choir and Orchestra and Coro Ponchielli Vertova under conductors Nico Hovius and Patrizia Bernelich in concerts in Verona and Crema, with repertoire including Vivaldi’s Gloria and Magnificat.
Tuesday, 26th April, 20:30 – Concert in San Fermo, Verona, Italy: Vivaldi Gloria and Magnificat
Thursday 28th April, 20:00 – Concert in San Bernardino, Crema, Italy: Vivaldi Gloria and Magnificat
Emma was honoured to record a song for the funeral of British veteran Alan King. Alan was in the East Riding Yeomanry as part of the 27th Armoured Brigade. He was one of the first to land on Sword Beach on D-Day. His life expectancy after landing was one hour. He survived the Battle of Normandy, and advanced through Northern France and took part in the Liberation of the Netherlands. Emma met him during veterans events in France, the Netherlands, and the U.K.
“The Holy City”
Michael Maybrick (as Stephen Adams) (1841-1913)
Frederic Weatherly (1848-1929)
Emma Brown, mezzo-soprano; Anton Doornhein, piano; The Pancras Consort Musical direction: Hans Brons.