Two weeks in Rome – part one.
In January 2025, I spent two weeks on holiday in an apartment in the centre of the Centro Storico (Historic Centre) of Rome and I felt I had lived there for ever. It was like being at home, but with…
Tag Palestrina
Happy Easter everyone!
The Incredulity of Saint Thomas (1601-2) by Caravaggio (1571 – 1610) In this series of Easter themed paintings, I’ve chosen for today this vividly physical painting by Caravaggio where I feel the artist is pointing at my own faults of trying…
Merry Christmas everyone!
Nativity by Giovanni Bellini (c.1433-1515) Merry Christmas to you all…peace and goodwill and all that stuff. Here’s the Venetian Renaissance painter Giovanni Bellini’s Christmas card to us all and, below, my favourite choir, The Sixteen, perform one of my favourite pieces of…
Palestrina Music For Holy Saturday
Palestrina (1525-1594) When I used to sing tenor in various choirs and groups from childhood until not that many years ago, I always found Easter a moving experience because, whatever your faith, it managed to bring the best out of…
Barefoot Palestrina for Maundy Thursday
Today, in the Christian calendar, is Maundy Thursday – remembered as the anniversary of Jesus’ “Last Supper” when he broke bread with his disciples after taking it on himself to wash their feet. Foot washing, in hot desert countries had…