A Maestro in Italy

Recent travels into Le Marche to give masterclasses provided the opportunity to witness the devastation of the 2016 earthquakes, still very much in evidence. The earthquakes here were between 6.2 and 6.5 magnitude. They were terrifying enough and one can only begin to imagine the tragedy that has hit Turkey. The cover photo for this episode is what was once a church in Norcia.

Recent events in Radio 4's The Archers has caused me to think a lot about grief and grieving, and to share my own experiences in the hope that they might help. Alongside the podcast, here's a poem I wrote shortly after losing my husband Kieran four years ago. Waves.Great, crushing wavesOf pain.Where do they come from?An objectA photoA glimpse in a doorwayA memoryUnexpectedOne minute everything's normalAnd you're fine.Then the pain overwhelmsAgain.And all the time the dreadful knowledgeThe horrible, terrible immutable truthThat you'll never see him again.No point wishing.He can't come back. I know this but Oh, Oh, OhHow I wish that he'd never gone.He was my light, you see:The centre of my world.He was my everything.So, what to do?I don't know, you see?The future seems so dim,So unreal.Not what was expected.Somewhere inside me there must be hope.There must be hopethat I can find the strength to carry on.If not, do I deny the love we shared?The oneness;The sheer joy of togetherness?Look down upon me my loveHelp me to find that strength.Though I struggle you can help me.And know this;That you were a smile,You were a caress,You were a meal, cooked with love,You were a carer, a protector.You were my very being;My life, my soul.

A short podcast this time, due to Colin being ill. He talks about things to do and see in and around Terni, which is not generally thought of as a tourist destination.

More feasting in Scheggino: this time on the occasion of the Festival of Saint Anthony Abbot. Starting a new choir and accessing their head voices.

This is the first podcast of A Maestro in Italy, during which I introduce myself and the beautiful village of Scheggino, where I live. I explain how I come to be here and talk a little about singing technique. In this episode I give a short introduction to breathing for singing. I also talk a little about Christmas here in Umbria.