So, another year has passed….. where did that go? I feel like I’ve been in a washing machine, after two tours, a broken heart and all sorts in between! The year started with a wonderfully relaxing holiday to Egypt, with my best friend.

Two mindblowing performances of Verdi’s Requiem back in April to celebrate the 80th Birthday of conductor John Railton. What a privilege, and an honour to sing alongside Jean Rigby – a real treat! I then had the pleasure of working again for Opera UK, on a 6 week tour of the beautiful Emerald Isle.

Rain aside, and necessary testing of the Guiness, we had a wonderful tour, and audiences loved our bold and boisterous Barber of Seville. I was so lucky to play Rosina, what a character, and I made some wonderful friends along the way.

After a short break with my family in the Westcountry, I stayed South for rehearsals and performances of La Bohème, with New Devon Opera. Some of the most BEAUTIFUL music in which I have ever had the pleasure to be absorbed for almost all of July. It was bliss. Playing the Minx Musetta, and again, meeting and working alongside wonderful folk, singing and performing Puccini together.

Now I am settled back in London, where my feet are enjoying touching the ground after a crazed few months. I am working towards a Diploma in Holistic Massage which is keeping me busy. Lots of auditions coming up so am focusing on those with lots of preparation to do. Last year I missed the blackberries, and I fear I have again allowed the Devil to spit on them….but I am coming for you sloes so watch out – and get the Gin ready!!!

Alas, 6 months have passed since my last Blog Entry…

On the eve of October, when the Devil is said to spit, or worse pee, on the Blackberries, I am revealing all.

Here are 10 of the Best from Bee’s Summer Season!

• Birmingham!!!  Performances at both Symphony Hall, with RAF Voluntary Bands, and the National Indoor Arena to launch the Yonex Badminton World Championships.

• Belinda in May - Shaftesbury.  Back on my stomping ground to launch a series of Westcountry performances.  Thank you to Tony for all your hard work to make this Event such a success.  Can’t wait to come back!

• Dubai’s  40˚ heat  offered the sun worshipper in me total SAD therapy, not to mention wonderful company, food, relaxation and A Night at the Opera.  (Feel the need to go again now to recharge the batteries before another British winter… )

• Opera UK Tour, to the lesser known gems of the Emerald Isle, before returning home to round off Così fan tutte.  An absolute joy - singing Mozart, accompanied by String Quartet, travelling around Ireland in Springtime.  We even had the chance to bottle-feed some greedy lambs…

• THE BIG 30…  My 30^th Birthday Celebrations…In honesty, I was unsure as to how I would cope with reaching this landmark figure.  Fortunately, the celebrations, the love of family and friends, and a vast amount of red wine certainly softened the blow!!! Included a ‘family’ party at home, a ‘friends’ party in London, and my favourite thing, a Fly Past by 2 Lynx Helicopters!!!  Now that was something!  And, they tell me 30 is the new 20 anyway…

• A weird and wonderful smattering of recitals and concerts including performances at Shipley Festival, Somerton Festival, Weston- super-Mare Winter Gardens, and Drapers Hall with ensembles including Croydon Bach Choir and Wincanton Choral Society.

• Picnic in the Park, Melksham Golf Course. We were blessed with beautiful sunshine following a series of wet weekends.  A Firework Display to rival all others, a truly great Open Air Event, and a chance to sing all my favourites songs in the World.

• Pirates of Penzance, Buxton Opera House.  Following an initial visit to this wonderful venue back in May with Opera UK, it was my goal to spend more time working at this beautiful theatre.  And the chance came along in August with Charles Court Opera’s fuel-filled production.  Three words best describe it: Pirates, Parasols and Paracetamol.

• Pirates was closely followed in September by more Operetta in the form of Lehar’s Die Lustige Witwe with Pavilion Opera.  Learning the role of Valencienne forced a resurrection of my GCSE German, and really gave me something to get my teeth into.  And that’s before we even started on the fish-netted,  Can-Canning Grisetten…

In summary, I have embraced a summer of Wonderful Venues, Forging Friendships, and Vocal and Physical Health. I can approach Autumn having had an injection of fun and laughter, self belief and faith in why I do what I do.

I have also been fortunate enough to celebrate many friends’ weddings and would like to re-iterate my joy at the birth of three more bouncing babies!  Trips to the South of France, Lyon and Brighton have interspersed and I have caught up with many old friends.

And this Autumn promises to be an exciting one.

Watch this space and keep an eye on that Gigs page!

Meanwhile I’m off to pick those Blackberries…

Well now you might get a chance to catch me in Kenneth Branagh’s The Magic Flute as after a very sporadic and short lived life in the nations multiplexes, it finally gets its debut on DVD today.

Here’s a collection of grabs from it, I’m in everyone of them so you can kind of play Where’s Wally? when looking for me! LOL

Like I said before, my part was a blink and you’ll miss me affair!

Interview.mp3 (3.4Mb - Right Click To Download)

Check out my new look website!

Got my friendly elves to work their magic and here it is…

Hope you like it, will still be in a transitional phase for the the next month or so - I’m cycling through a handful of different headers (Hit Refresh ) - so expect a few more tweaks to occur but I’m looking forward to your feedback/comments.

Bee xx