On Thursday 4 June 2026, I played first trumpet at St Andrew Holborn, London, in a performance featuring the choir of the law firm Macfarlanes. They performed Handel’s Foundling Hospital Anthem (HWV 268), together with selections from Messiah (HWV 56), accompanied by a chamber orchestra.

The Foundling Hospital Anthem is also known by its longer title, Blessed Are They That Considereth the Poor. Handel composed the work in 1749 for a benefit concert in support of London’s Foundling Hospital, and it remains one of his less frequently performed large-scale choral works. It was particularly fitting to perform the Foundling Hospital Anthem at St Andrew Holborn, where Thomas Coram, founder of the Foundling Hospital, is now buried. The concert raised funds for the children’s charity Coram, which continues his legacy through its support of vulnerable young people.

The performance featured the Macfarlanes choir, together with excellent soloists drawn from its ranks, and instrumentalists Hilary Stock and Andres Villalobos-Lepiz (oboes), Russell Gilmour and Matthew Wells (trumpets), Matthew Green (timpani), Sarah Moffatt and Liz MacCarthy (violins), Stefanie Heichelheim (viola), Henrik Persson (cello), Carina Cosgrave (double bass), and Anhad Arora (organ).

I had originally expected to be rehearsing in Paris with Les Talens Lyriques today, ahead of their performances at The Grange Festival and the Würzburg Mozart Festival. However, with my wife in the final stages of pregnancy, I chose to remain in the UK. By a fortunate coincidence, that left me available when this opportunity arose, and I am grateful that Les Talens Lyriques have kindly allowed me to retain the UK portion of the tour, so I look forward to joining them next week at The Grange Festival. I’m also looking forward to a UK-based tour (though they’ll be going to China for a couple of additional concerts) with the Aurora Orchestra tour later this month.