Today I once again sing the praises of amateur singers: courageous souls who do not consider themselves singers yet allow themselves to intone figures and portions of scales rising and falling with beautiful vocal intonation. All the fragility that gives vocal music its meaning is present in these untrained voices. I never fail to be moved by it.

This was quite a contrast to the well-trained voices I heard recently who seemed to be in constant competition with one another: not blending, not listening. It was tiresome, actually.