Marina Prior

 “Tingles up and down the spine”

Marina Prior certainly lived up to her reputation as Australia’s leading lady of musical theatre by totally enchanting and thrilling patrons at the Robert Blackwood Hall on Sunday 29 April.

The choir opened the concert with four favourites from the Welsh choral repertoire, including a magnificent a capella rendition of Myfanwy which had the audience reaching for the tissues, for all the right reasons.

Marina’s first bracket showcased her beautiful voice and sensitivity with Love Changes Everything, Someone to Watch,’S Wonderful and a lovely Irish Medley. She was accompanied by her very talented pianist David Cameron.

She then sang the solo part with the choir in the lilting Danny Boy and in a special arrangement of All Through the Night.

The choir closed out the first half with a spirited performance of a new version of When the Saints Go Marching In which is one of the ensemble pieces at the World Choir event in London in July. Marina generously came in at the end to lead the audience with the final choruses.

The second half opened with two choruses from Il Trovatore, one in Welsh and the other in the original Italian, complete with anvil and blacksmith.

Soloist Drew Hopkins and the choir followed this with a very lively performance of Cherchez La Femme, thus adding – only just- the fourth language of the afternoon.

Marina then came on in another beautiful dress and sang Memory, Both Sides Now and celebrated Rogers & Hammerstein in a medley of favourite tunes. Following this Marina reprised one of her stage parts in our Les Mis medley, with a beautifully sensitive Castle on a Cloud. She was joined by Roger Barlett with Bring Him Home.

As a finale, Marina and Graham Warner combined on a modern arrangement of Waltzing Matilda which segued into the Welsh National Anthem and rousing approbation from the audience which had witnessed by all accounts one of the best concerts the choir has ever presented.

Throughout the concert, from the opening march of the Men of Harlech to the streets of Paris in Les Mis, we were indeed fortunate to have master drummer Jeremy Hopkins, sensitively complementing the various musical styles.

Many of the comments we collected verbally and in writing confirmed the brilliance of Marina and the overall high quality of the whole concert. One of the letters of appreciation we received is reproduced here:-

Dear Gordon,

I’m writing to congratulate the Victoria Welsh Choir for the wonderful concert last Sunday afternoon.

I have been to quite a few of your concerts in past years, as has my friend, who was with me. I felt the singing of the choir was the best I had heard, and caused quite a few tingles up and down the spine.

The overall presentation was excellent with all the artists complementing each other, the standard of the singing, the two brilliant pianists and the drummer, the ladies’ gowns and the men’s snazzy red bow ties.

But last of all, what can you say about Marina Prior? A most gifted artist, what pleasure she gives,  how lucky are we.

Many, many thanks to all involved in a wonderful afternoon’s entertainment.

Yours sincerely, Margaret