On Stage at Hudson’s Ale House!

Hello every-one It’s been a great weekend. This Friday I was performing in the town of Trumpington which for those of you who don’t know is situated on the out skirts of Cambridge. I had been engaged to sing for a special Blitz Party to celebrate The Hudson’s Ale House’s first anniversary, and what a great night we all had too. Paul had driven up from Portsmouth especially and worked with me as my sound engineer. He also sang too and delighted every-one with some of Frank Sinatra’s popular tunes. Every-one dressed up and on this occasion I had been asked to perform in my US WAC uniform up tempo tunes from the 1940s. So it made a change to give the show an American flavour with a few British tunes thrown in. Of course no 40s show would be complete with-out finishing with lots of flag waving and “Land of Hope and Glory”. So think-you Hudson’s for inviting me. Paul and I had a fantastic time and it was lovely to sing for you all.

Me with my Singing Teacher Liz Harley!

This Saturday was one of the few Saturdays where I didn’t have a show so I took the opportunity to see Liz Harley my singing teacher. Liz teachers from her home in Welwyn Garden City and I’m very pleased to have found her. I’ve been in show business for nearly 25 years now and when you have been singing for as long as I have sometimes things need a little tweak.

I first started going to Liz just before I went out to Milan as I wanted to brush up on my Italian. I’m also working on my technic as I felt my vibrato was becoming a little way ward. I’m

See You There!

already starting to hear an improvement which in my case was all about placing the touge lower in the mouth. Hitting the high notes has never been a problem. I have the vocal tone of a coloratura soprano even though it’s not really coloratura work I do. However saying that this week I started work on “The Laughing Song” from “Die Fledermaus”. This was one of the first arias I learnt back in the day and for a long time was my party piece. I confess it’s been something like 16 years since I last sang it so it was lovely to go over it again with Liz and I’m looking forward to recording it early next year.

In the mean time I shall be performing this Thursday in my home town of Leighton Buzzard at the Oliver Hare for Heritage Week. This year it’s all about the changing face of pubs over the years and I’ve been booked to perform my 1940s “We’ll Meet Again” ATS show. If you would like to come and see me the afternoon costs £5 which includes a High Tea from 2pm – 4pm. I shall be on stage at 2.30pm for 60 minutes and you can reserve a table by calling the Oliver Hare on 01525 217952. There’s only limited space so do book to avoid disappointment as it would be lovely to see you.

That’s all my news for now. Next week it’s all about Halloween as I go all Witchy poo with my “Fly me to the Moon” shows. More on that in my next blog.

Keep Watching and Toodle Pip!

The Fleet’s in Port Again!

As you can see I’m back in the UK after my performances in Italy so it’s time to get ship-shape and Bristol fashion with my next a run of shows. It’s Trafalgar Day on Friday so perhaps not surprisingly I have a run of Nautical Wrens shows with a Music Hall show booked in for Wednesday. For this show I will be working in London with my friend Lynda Styan for The Royal Variety Charity at Brinsworth House. We have been booked to put on an Old Tyme Music Hall  and between us we have a great show planed which will be including all those wonderful songs from “The Good Old Days”.

If you know your history you will know Trafalgar Day falls on the 21st October so I will be spending much of this week in Navy uniform.  If you are not quite up to speed with what Trafalgar was then let me fill you in with this description.

The Battle of Trafalgar (21 October 1805) was a naval engagement fought by the Royal Navy against the combined

The Good Old Days!

fleets of the French and Spanish Navies, during the War of the Third Coalition (August–December 1805) of the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815). Twenty-seven British ships of the line led by Admiral Lord Nelson aboard HMS Victory defeated thirty-three French and Spanish ships of the line under the FrenchAdmiral Villeneuve in the Atlantic off the southwest coast of Spain, just west of Cape Trafalgar, in Caños de Meca. The Franco-Spanish fleet lost twenty-two ships, without a single British vessel being lost. It was the most decisive naval battle of the war, conclusively ending French plans to invade England.

The British victory confirmed the Royal navy’s supremacy that Britain had established during the eighteenth century. Nelson was shot by a French musketeer during the battle and died shortly after, becoming one of Britain’s greatest war heroes. This is a day which is celebrated by the Royal Navy every

All Set for Hudson’s Blitz Party!

year. At the dock yard in Portsmouth you can still see Nelson’s flag-ship HMS Victory which flies the naval flags as a mark of respect every year on this special day.

When it comes to putting together a show to commemorate this date most of my music comes from the 1930s and 40s which ties in with the date of my WRNS uniform. However I do include “Rule Britannia” which as we all know was written in the 18th century and just perfect for the 21st.

Oddly enough when it comes to the 21st October this year I’ve been booked to perform something a little different. A British/American WAC show at Hudson’s Ale House in the town of Trumpington. It’s to celebrate Hudson’s 1st Anniversary and to celebrate they are staging a 1940s Blitz party to which you are all invited. I will be on stage in my WAC uniform from 9pm – 10pm and you can find out more information by visiting Hudson’s  web-site at www.hudsonalehouse.co.uk/

I shall leave my blog here tonight. Keep Watching and thank-you for following and I look forward to seeing you all at Hudson’s Ale House!

Toodle Pip! 😉

Outside The Duomo!

It’s not everyday a soprano can boast she spent her birthday at La Scala but that is precisely what I did this Monday. After the excitement of performing for the people of Graffignana at the weekend our hosts very kindly took Paul and I into the centre of Milan to enjoy the sights. I had particularly wanted to see the cathedral  The Duomo which is one of the largest churches in the world.

Building work on the cathedral started at the end of the 14th century in 1386 and continued over centuries. It’s very impressive and astonishing to look at with an amazing number

The Madonnina!

of spires and statues. It sits right in the heart of Milan and has no shortage of carved marble. I have to confess the cathedral struck me as having a slight Dr Who “Tardis” quality. You certainly can’t miss it, but when Paul and I went inside it gave the illusion of being even larger on the inside than out. There’s much to see including The Madonnina which is the affectionate name given to the Milanese, the statue which stands on the top of the great spire. The people of Milan belive that the Madonnina protects their city and thanks to her statue the total hight of the Duomo is 108.5 metres tall.

It was crafted by the goldsmith Giuseppe Bini and was placed on the spire in 1774 which just makes my mind boggle at the thought. How did they do that in 1774? The Madonnina is 4 metres tall and it’s a very long way up to that spire! It is possible to take a walk up onto the roof

The Marble Flooring Designed by Tibaldi!

terraces although Paul and I didn’t have the time to do so on this occasion so we settled for admiring The Madonnina inside The Duomo. I’m not sure if the original is still on top of the spire or in the church, but either way I took a picture of her in the cathedral. The other thing I liked were the marble floors. These were designed by Tibaldi and the laying of which started in 1585 and continued for centuries. The black marble is from Varenna and the red marble comes from Arzo which makes up the elegant and decorative design.

Ofcourse no trip to Milan would be complete

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele!

without a little bit of shopping with it being the Fashion capital of world. Just outside The Duomo is the beautiful shopping arcade known as the “Galleria Vittorio Emanuele”. It’s a covered passageway in the shape of a cross featuring mosaics and has a gorgeous glass roof with elegant wrought ironwork. One of the most famous mosaics is the bull. It’s said that if you put your heel on the bulls genitals and turn three times it will bring you good luck which of course I had to do. However while I was there a man told me if you turn just once you will meet your man and as I met up with Paul half an hour later it clearly is true!

Milan has some beautiful shops and there are no shortage of designer names. Everywhere you look you see Versace and Prada and one of the fashion trends I noticed while I was in town was a trend for studs. I saw them on shoes,

Turning for Good Luck!

bags, trousers so no doubt in a couple of years the stud trend will filter its way over to the UK. I even saw a pair of gloves covered in studs when I was at the airport. I love my accessories and I have a passion for gloves so it was rather lovely to visit the glove shop in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele which was able to offer every colour and in any size. When it comes to gloves I have very small hands and I take size 6 1/2. It’s hard to get proper glove sizes in the UK  now but I’m pleased to say you can still get a glove to fit like a glove in France and Italy. I also saw a trend for capes so maybe that is something else we will all be

Chocolate Shoes!

wearing in the next year or two.

While we were in Milan our host Elisabetta took us to lunch at “La Rinascente” which is Milan’s equivalent to Harrods. Up stairs on the 7th floor are a selection of different eating establishments along with the stores food hall. While I was there I fell in love with the chocolate shoes. Yummy – shoes and chocolate combined how could a girl ask for anything more!

Ofcouse the most wonderful thing about my trip to Milan was the chance to visit the Opera House

Inside La Scala!

Me with Maria Callas!

Paul, Guiseppe and Me at San Francesco!

Inside San Francesco, Lodi!

La Scala which also houses a wonderful museum. I often think Opera is one of those art forms that really can’t be done on the cheap. It needs spectacle and a full orchestra to make the scores come alive. The greatest Opera singers in the world have all sung at La Scala and when you see the theatre you get a sence of some of the fantastic productions and performances which must have taken place on that stage. The museum has some beautiful portraits and no shortage of busts so I couldn’t resist the opportunity of having my photo taken with Maria Callis. I also enjoyed looking at the costumes and the photos of past productions.

That evening Guiseppe our host took us all out for a meal to celebrate my birthday to a local restaurant with a few of the re-anactors. On Tuesday he then kindly took Paul and I with translator Luca to the town of Lodi where we visited the church of San Franceco. Lodi is famous for its churches of which I belive there are 3. It is a substantial town that was originally developed 2000 years ago as an important town on the Roman transport routes in the region. It is now an attractive medieval town to explore with a great deal of character. Sadly we only had time to visit the one church but I’m so glad we got the chance to see inside San Francesco as it has no shortage of beautiful paintings, which can be seen on the pillars and walls depicting saints.

All good things have to come to an end and Paul and I were booked to fly home that night. We have both had a fantastic time in Italy and I would like to take this oppertunity to thank Guiseppe, his family and all the people of Graffignana for making Paul and I so very welcome.  We hope very much to return one day.

I shall leave my blog here tonight although next week it’s the run up to Trafalgar Day with Wren’s shows, but more on that in my next blog.

Keep Watching and Toodle Pip!

Paul and I with Giuseppe and Francesca!

Ave Maria!

The Congregation!

Shopping for Vintage Shoes!

Meeting up with Italian Re-anactors!

The Important People of Graffignana!

Graffignana’s 1940s Re-anactors!

All the Nice Girls Love a Sailor!

Hello every-one it’s been a fantastic couple of days that I’ve decided to split my blog into two posts as I have so much to share with you all. On Saturday Paul and I flew out to Milan. I had been booked to perform for Graffignana’s 1940s event which on Sunday attracted over 5000 visitors plus 200 re-anacters. On my arrival I had been engaged to perform Saturday night at the “Serata della Riconoscenza” and I had learnt the Italian National anthem for the occasion especially. I also wore my Italian flag dress which I had adapted from my French dress by changing the blue jacket to green velvet thus making the three colours of the Italian flag. This was exactly the right costume for Saturday nights show which went down very well with the Italian audience. I also sang a selection of Judy Garland tunes, “Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend” and finished with “Nessum Dorma”. You really can’t go wrong with Puccini as Italians love their Opera – as do I!

The wonderful thing about performing for Italian audiences they really appreciate good singers and applaud in the middle of a song if they think you have sung a particular note or phrase beautfully. This is quite different to British audiences who wait until the song is finished before applauding. It’s the same in Russia with ballet. Audiences often applaud durring a dance if they think the steps have been beautifuly danced rather than wait until the end.

I had been looking forward to Italy and this event very much. It was my first time to Milan although I have been to Rome a couple of times before. So often I find there is so much beauty to see I have to retun as I can’t take everything in on my first visit. On Sunday I had been engaged to sing Ave Maria for Holy Mass in Graffignana which was attended by all the dignatries and the towns people. I had met the organist the day before on Saturday when we had had a quick play through. It was a great honour to be asked to sing for Mass. I always enjoy singing in church as the ecoustics suit my voice perfectly and it was a great opportunity for me to sing in Latin, Schubert’s Ave Maria.

I had been invited to Graffignana by the mayor of the town Giuseppe Enrico Galetta who had seen me perform in Arromanches for the D-Day commerations in Normandy and liked the idea of having me  sing for his event due to the fact I have a large repotiore of 1940s American music and could sing in French and Italian. I had been engaged to perform my American WAC show for the Sunday afternoon but the song which went down best of all with all the re-anacters was the Band of Brothers theme tune “Requiem for a Soldier” which I sang at the start of the show after arriving in a 1940s jeep and at the end when all the re-anacters joined me on stage for the finale. I also sang “O mio Babbino Caro” from “Gianni Schicchi” and “Nessum Dorma” for the local people. Another song which went down very well was the french number “J’Attendrai” which one lady remembered her grandmother singing to her when she was a little girl.

Paul also joined me on stage and sang a couple of Frank Sinatra numbers including “Night and Day” which brought the house down. Both Paul and I would like to thank Giuseppe and all the people of Graffignana for their surport and kind generosity. On Saturday we were greated by translator Silvia who translated for me at the “Serata della Riconoscenza” and on Sunday by Francesca who joined me in church and on stage as she took Paul and I around the Italian market.  I was even able to pick up a beautiful pair of 1940s burgandy shoes thanks to Giuseppe’s generosity from a very glamorous Italian lady selling vintage clothes!

In my next blog I will tell you about spending my Birthday at La Scala and our vist to Duomo the large cathedral in the centre of Milan. I will also be writing about our trip to Lodi and our visit to the church of San Francesco.

So Keep Watching and Toodle Pip!

Filming So in Love!

On Set with Hair Hitlar Kim!

On Stage with David!

If you caught my last post on Facebook you will know I’ve been filming again today in Aylesbury at The Limelight Theatre. It’s been another full day and I think we will have some great footage which I look forward to sharing with you all later this year. On Friday we filmed songs from the 1950s and today we captured tunes from the 1940s. I will have to go back and do my 1940s uniform shots early next year but slowly but surely I’m recording my songs to camera which will make it easier for future clients to see at a glance what I can do.

I can’t remember the last time I was asked along to an audition and sang with a pianist. Certainly when it comes to the vintage market all the castings are now done through web-sites and Youtube. This is probably because the people who cast events don’t come from theatrical backgrounds and the thought of having someone sing for them live comes across as rather daunting. I guess most people enjoy the convenance of seeing footage at the click of a mouse. My goal is to have one show reel which shows the whole spectrum of my repertoire from Opera to Rock and Roll. So I’ve been working hard this year with film maker David Pustansky to capture my songs. I still have the Opera and Music Hall numbers to film but we are steadily getting there and I know it will be so worth it in the end.

I was very lucky to have my friend Kim on hand with me this weekend who not only did sound but also styled my hair for the 40s shoot today. I’m next back in the theatre in January so I’ve much to plan for. I’ve already chosen the fabrics as I would like to give some of my Music Hall costumes a re-vamp. The only thing

Back Stage at the Limelight Theatre!

that worries me is the lack of interest in Music Hall these days. The general public don’t have much of an interest in this style of music and I’m really the last generation who remembers the TV show The Good Old Days. I was really surprised when I ask the question to a number of different audiences if they could remember the name of the theme tune which was played at the end of The Good Old Days show every week. None could remember it was “Down at the Old Bull and Bush” which really surprised me. A few months ago I did a Music Hall quiz and once again I found that the general public know nothing about Music Hall which is a shame when these songs are our heritage. Perhaps the vintage future lies in the music of the 1950s and 60s. I have to say my Swinging 50s and 60s show is now my best seller!

See You In Italy!

I expect I will only have time to write one blog this week. For those of you who follow me will know I fly out to Milan on Saturday to sing at Italy’s Liberation commemorations which this year will be taking place in the town of Graffignana. I’ve been busy learning the Italian National Anthem in preparation and now I’ve finished filming its full steam ahead for Italy. I have a Saturday night show to perform in the town hall and I’ve been invited to sing Ave Maria in church on Sunday before performing the music of the 1940s for my big show on Sunday afternoon. With so much to prepare I shall leave it here tonight.

Keep Watching and Toodle Pip!

On Set With David!

It’s just a very quick blog tonight to say I’ve been working flat-out today filming in Aylesbury at the Limelight Theatre with David Pustansky. I was extremely pleased to have my friend Kim with me today as we had lots of quick changes. Better known as the Hair Hitler Kim is always on hand with the hair spray, a wiz with hair decorations and she was also doing sound for me too. So thank-you so much for all your hard work today Kim it was lovely to work with you again!

If you have been following me you will know on this occasion I was capturing songs from the

All Set to Film!

1950s and on Monday I shall be back in the theatre filming the 1940s. It’s been a bit of a squeeze as the theatre was closed for refurbishment during the summer and all the Sunday dates are set aside for Pantomime rehearsals during the Autumn. I wont be able to film again until the new year  but we were able to record 9 songs today so I’m very pleased with what we were able to achieve in a day. On Monday I plan to record another seven numbers. I confess I’m feeling very tired now so I don’t want to be too late to bed tonight. I have to turn around my costumes and get everything ready for Mondays filming. Then next Saturday I will be flying out to Milan so busy busy!

Keep Watching and Toodle Pip!

Wimpole Halls War Time Walk!

Looking Over My Italian in the Hairdresses!

Paul and I Between Shows at Wimpole!

First Show of the Day!

Paul Outside Wimpole Hall!

The Sand and Motorcycles Event!

On Stage with Paul!

Enjoying the Show!

Nice Bike!

Once again it’s been another busy weekend of shows. On Friday I was in the hairdressers bright and early getting ready for the weekend. I’ve so much to cram in over the next couple of weeks so while I was in the hair dresses I took along my Italian. It’s hard to belive Paul and I will be flying out in less than two weeks to Milan and I have so much to get ship-shape first. Rather annoyingly my singing teacher has spotted a few misprints in my song book which has made the job a little more difficult than it should be – but we are getting there!

On Saturday I was booked to sing at Wimpole Hall thanks to my friend Lynda Styan and Event Plan. Wimpole Hall is a beautiful National Trust property in Arrington near Royston and although I was only there for one day the house was already reporting a record-breaking gate. I’d been booked to sing in the tithe barn 3 x 15 minute sets during the day plus a 30 minute dance set in the evening. Lynda already had a show that day so I worked the Saturday and Lynda worked the Sunday sets with us both doing a slot at the Saturday evening dance. This was a beautiful event and the tithe barn made for a wonderful location. I was also on with the Spitfires and Pete Wayre who like me came in as a last-minute booking due to someone pulling out at short notice.

The tithe barn is situated at the farm and once Paul and I had finished our shows we took the War Time Walk to the house which was very interesting. All along the path were WW2 re-enactments which told stories about the 2nd world war, from American field hospitals to fleeing French, Polish troops to families having picnics.  It’s always a bit of a dash once one has got off stage to see these things but I’m so pleased Paul and I made the walk and saw something of the house. We only had half an hour to look around which means we must visit Wimpole Hall again sometime in the future. The house has some wonderful paintings which when I return I will be able to look at properly rather than the American tourist way. When one sees Americans in London they often say they have done it all by lunch time where I like to take my time.

On Sunday Paul and I were playing in Leighton Buzzard at The Sand and Motorcycles Rally in Pages Park. This year the theme was WW1 and I had been engaged to perform the music of WW1 – the 1960s over 3 x 45 minute sets. Just like Saturday we were lucky with the weather and rather than do 3 sets in costume I thought it would be better to mix the music which went down very well with the visitors. The event was staged by the Leighton Buzzard narrow gauge railway and the park was packed with motor bikes of all ages. So many thanks to Neil for inviting me to sing Paul and I had a great time.

Now I’m back home I have much to plan for as I start filming again this Friday and Monday at the Limelight Theatre in Aylesbury. If you have been following me you will know my next showreel will show me singing the music of the 1940s and 50s as I move into “Glorious Technicolor”. A lot of thought goes into my costumes and the songs I sing and I’m looking forward to sharing my new songs “I’ve Heard that Song Before” and “Saturday Night” with you all very soon. I tried these numbers out at the weekend and they seem to go down well which is good news!

On that note I must dash as I have many more e-mails to send out tonight and contracts to do.

Keep Watching and Toodle Pip!

All Set For Sand and Motorcycles!

Hello every-one it’s just a very quick blog tonight as I wanted to let you all know you can catch me on stage this weekend performing for The National Trust at Wimpole Hall, Arrington, Royston, Cambridgeshire on Saturday at 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm. I will also be performing in the evening at the Halls 1940s dance so if you are about it will be delightful to see you all. During the day I only have 3 x 15 minute 1940s sets to do so I’m looking forward very much to seeing a little of the house with Paul and learning about its history.

Off to Wimpole Hall!

For those of you who follow me will know I’ve been working hard on building a new 1950s and 60s page for my web-site and I expect many of you have already seen the new cut out photos I had taken earlier this year. Rachel has just embeded my new 1950s and 60s showreels into the page and I’m partially proud of my “Johnny B Goode” video which was such fun to make. If you haven’t seen it yet just click onto https://www.fionaharrison.biz/1950s-60s and you can pick up my new films there and also on my facebook page too!

For those of you who like the music of the 1950s and 60s you will be pleased to know I will be performing at Pages Park, Billington Road, Leighton Buzzard on Sunday for The Sand and Motorcycles event. In fact the theme this year is WW1 although I will be performing music from WW1 through to 1960 over the course of day at 11.15am, 1.15pm and 3.15pm. I will be mixing my music up over the 3 x 45 minute sets so once again I hope you can all make it along. The event is being organised by The Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway and the best bit is it’s free! So I look forward to seeing you.

I really must dash now as I have my show plans to do and I have another busy day tomorrow. I’m in the hair dresses all morning tomorrow getting ready for the cameras for next weekend plus I have a singing lesson in the afternoon in Welwyn Garden City. Then I have arranged for a dress fitting  in the evening so it’s all go!

Keep Watching and Toodle Pip! 😉