The Sixteen's soprano Alexandra talks Spanish bars, JS Bach, and her favourite pastimes.

What is the best thing about singing with The Sixteen?
My brilliant colleagues, and the camaraderie, especially among the women. They are not only a joy to sing alongside, but also wonderfully supportive and valued friends.

What is your favourite Sixteen anecdote or memory?
We had a memorable tour to Spain a number of years ago. Several wonderful concerts in glorious cathedrals, of course, but we also had a lot of fun in our spare time. There was one particular bar that we spent a very lively evening in, and we tried to go back there the following night, but the owner had posted a sign on the door saying that he had gone on holiday. We had either frightened him off, or he had made enough money from us in one evening to afford to shut up shop for a few days!

Is there a piece you have fallen in love with since performing it with The Sixteen?
There are many, but the one that stands out is James Macmillan’s Miserere. I loved taking it around the UK on the Choral Pilgrimage in 2013, and introducing it so many new people. I also discovered Daniel-Lesur’s Le Cantique des Cantiques for the first time when we sang it at Kings Place in 2022. I had never heard it before, and found it totally mesmerising!

If you could go back in time and be present at any historical performance, what would it be?
Any performance where JS Bach was directing his own music.

What has been the most challenging piece of music you have ever performed?
Probably Poulenc’s Figure Humaine. We sang it at the Edinburgh Festival in 2014, and that’s the only time I have had the opportunity to sing it. I remember it being extremely challenging!

Does anyone in The Sixteen have any unusual habits?! If so, what are they?
I can’t think of any!

What do you do to relax in your spare time?
I love to cook and bake, read novels, climb hills, swim in open water, and do word puzzles. My guilty pleasure is police procedural or investigative dramas on TV!

Was there anyone who inspired you to become a singer? Is there anyone who continues to inspire you today?
I was lucky to have some wonderful music teachers and choir leaders in my teens, who definitely contributed to me choosing this career path. There was a lot of music going on in my home town of Southend-on-Sea when I was growing up, and two large, competitive music festivals each year, which is where I cut my performing teeth.

What do you think you would be doing if you weren’t a musician?
I really have no idea. I briefly flirted with artist management before I decided to make the leap into performing full time, but I don’t think I was cut out for it. There was a time I considered accountancy but I’m not sure that would have gone well! The brilliant thing about my job is that it doesn’t really feel like work, most of the time. And for that I feel incredibly lucky.

What would your ultimate desert island disc be?
The complete works of JS Bach.

What would you eat for your last supper?
A pan-Asian feast! Proper prawn crackers, spring rolls, pad Thai, gyoza, ramen, spicy stir fries, Thai curries, and Vietnamese noodles.