Day #5 - 6 Cambridge & Coventry

The beautiful courtyard at King's College Cambridge

Sunday
Two hour drive from Aldeburgh to Cambridge, followed by 30 minute city orientation tour. Punting on the Cam, shopping in the city market and a cup of warm coffee (to ward off the June chill!). Highlight of the day was Sunday Evensong Service at King's College Chapel. Our very own Dr. Marilyn Keiser played a beautiful and dramatic Rheinberger Passacaglia Variations as the Prelude.

Ansty Hall, 1687, just outside Coventry

Touring the burned out remains of Coventry's gothic cathedral 

Monday
Awoke in the beautiful Ansty Hall; following breakfast drove to the moving St Michael's Cathedral in Coventry, where the skeletal structure of the gothic remains (bombed in WWII) serves as a somber entry path to the contemporary new building. Britten's War Requiem was commissioned for the festival which opened the new cathedral fifty years ago in 1963. Attending the daily noon-time "Service of Reconciliation" was a profound and meaningful end to our time in Coventry.

Chapel behind the main altar in Coventry

Days #3 & 4 Aldeburgh Music Festival

This trip continues to amaze! Following a relaxing 2.5 hr drive out of London, our team arrived in the charming seaside town of Aldeburgh. On the southern shore of the North Sea, Aldeburgh was home for Britten and Pears during much of their lives, and is where they established the annual Aldeburgh Music Festival.

Our Victorian seaside hotel, the Wentworth, overlooks the pebbly beach, and has inviting living room areas throughout the main floor to encourage reading, chatting with friends, and taking afternoon tea!

Aldeburgh's charming Wentworth Hotel on the sea

Britten's first opera of international renown is Peter Grimes, and is based on a poem called "The Burrough" by 17th century Aldeburgh resident George Crabbe. You can almost hear the strains of the famous "Four Sea Interludes" from Grimes in the coastal breezes as you explore this picturesque town. In fact, the opening prologue of the opera is set in Moot Hall, the real-world version of which sits just down the road from our hotel in all its 16th century splendor.

Tim, Marilyn, Sherrie and Michael as we enjoy another elegant dinner at our hotel

Last night, after a wonderful dinner of guinea fowl, local asparagus and chocolate brownie at the hotel, we traveled the short distance to the town of Snape, to see the opening performance of this year's Aldeburgh Music Festival, Peter Grimes, presented in concert version.

Beautiful headstones for Britten and Pears in the Parish Churchyard

Aldeburgh's Moot Hall is featured prominently in Peter Grimes

Today we had time to explore the home Britten and Pears shared for many years, the "Red House," just re-opened after a year of renovations and restorations. Standing in the Britten's composition studio, knowing it was where he wrote such works as the War Requiem was one of those moment-of-a-lifetime experiences!

Snape Maltings Concert Hall

Living Room at Britten's "Red House"

This evening, after a VIP tour of the Snape Maltings concert hall grounds, we enjoyed a performance of Britten's Les Iluminations and Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta by Bartok.

Day #2 All Around London

What a day! A magnificent tour of the Royal Opera House (including the special box for the Royal Family, and their gathering chamber backstage), a private concert inside the Handel House Museum, an incredible afternoon tea on the top floor of Fortnum & Mason, all capped off with a terrific performance of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, still in previews at the Drury Lane Theater (go see this show when it comes to NYC!!).

Michael Sells gives us an overview of the important history of London's Royal Opera House

Handel House Museum in London

Admiring the terrific view of Covent Garden from the rooftop terrace of the Royal Opera House

Heather and Tim contemplate the tempting array at the Fortnum & Mason afternoon tea