Vernon Handley CBE - Memorial Concert Comments

What a wonderful concert - all my party enjoyed it very much. We thought that the conductor was excellent and none of us had seen her before but will certainly look out for her in future.

Of course we thought the Bliss Fanfare was exciting and filled the Cathedral with glorious sound as she conducted it with flair. Pity it was so short!

Gerald Towell, Bliss Society

I thought that it was a quite excellent occasion – not just 'an evening' or 'a concert'! Tod was very much 'there' at Worcester. As a seasoned Three Choirs chorus member, I well know how bad the acoustic is there – but the quality of the music-making was marvellous. I felt that Laura really inspired the band, and indeed I had tears running down my cheeks after the first 20 bars of 'Cockaigne'... Tod had really taught her to do both Elgar and Vaughan-Williams – Job brought back many happy memories of Boult doing it!

Martin Lee-Browne, Delius Society

Thank you for letting us know about Tod's Memorial Concert. We felt it was such a moving and memorable occasion in the incomparable setting of Worcester Cathedral. The ESO played superbly and we thought their performance of the Overture 'Cockaigne' was the best we've heard.

You have obviously put in a great amount of time and effort in arranging this concert. Also in compiling the comprehensive and most interesting Commemorative Programme, which gives a fascinating insight into Tod and his Music. We enjoyed reading the many wonderful tributes.

Patsy Flather

We do congratulate you on a really remarkable evening of music in memory of a truly extraordinary man. It was special in so many ways as the audience listened in complete silence with respect and enjoyment of the sort of music Tod promoted and introduced so many of us to. The programme was rich in memory and had clever moments like the standing and singing of a hymn together as if we were one large choir. It did have the effect of moulding a body of people from different parts of the country into a sort of relationship brought about by the love for Tod and all that he had meant to each and every person there. Just as we appreciated this, so too would Tod have done also.

Elizabeth Lyons

It was an absolute pleasure to play with ESO in such a memorable and moving concert. Thank you so much for inviting me to play. Like you I can not understand why 'Job' is not part of the standard repertoire. It is a beautifully crafted work with drama, sheer beauty, and wonderful orchestral colours. I always think that it is one of the rare pieces of music where the music for the good is even better then the music for the bad. I think that the program is a wonderful way to remember Tod and I will come back to it more then once

David Hedges, viola

It was an honour and a joy to take part in the concert and thank you for asking me. I thought Laura did so wonderfully well and Tod would have been so very proud of her - it was a truly worthy occasion and I am proud to have been a small part of it.

Ian Tracey, organ

It was an honour to be part of such an occasion. I'm glad it all went according to plan and was a fitting tribute to Tod.

Michael George, baritone

What a very remarkable occasion last Friday evening was, and what an extraordinarily appropriate one for Tod! I mean by this, that it somehow combined modesty with fine music-making, good fellowship with intelligent reminiscence and anecdote; it demonstrated determination and commitment in the face of clearly formidable financial difficulties, and if not quite on the border, it took place in the West. What very Tod-like qualities! Though clearly not calculated to have that effect, it was as if Tod's influence extended to every aspect of the occasion.

Robert Spearing

Thank you all for last night – a very special occasion to which everyone gave their all. I was privileged and honoured to be involved.

Andrew Neill

I, and about ten other representatives of Monmouth Choral Society, including the current chairman and secretary, were thrilled to be present at last night's wonderful Tod Handley Memorial Concert. It was indeed a fitting tribute to a great man and a great musician. My husband and I also popped in to the post-concert reception and were privileged to witness the many appreciative words of thanks to all who made the concert possible.

I shall treasure my copy of the commemorative programme and the CD (a brilliant idea).

Jean Hancock

It was a truly moving evening and having known Tod for about 38 years I know how pleased he would have been - somewhere he is looking and smiling at us all!

David Stirling, timpani

I was so impressed by the magnificent work you all did to produce a memorable and happy evening. Thank you for that.

Mary Whittle, Proteus Singers

I had the most wonderful evening last night reading through the extraordinary booklet you and your team prepared for Tod's Memorial last week. You produced a programme that all of us who have a copy will cherish for years to come. I am so grateful that you invited me to contribute. Having my little tribute alongside those of Tod's closest personal friends and musical associates is quite humbling.

Richard R Adams, Bax Website editor

Thank you for all that you have done - the programme is a wonderful tribute and I will read it all this weekend. You have done an absolutely marvellous job and I will treasure this for years to come, and share it with my colleagues at the Liverpool Phil. The soul and personality of Tod is all there - the images are wonderful and I love the one on the back cover. A truly fitting tribute.

Sandra Parr

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