Gisborne – Côr Bach

“A joy to hear” “Nicely relaxed concert.” “choir harmonise beautifully” “wonderful feeling of camaraderie – spilled out into the audience” “Excellent singing, entertaining humour”

The small choir Côr Bach journeyed to Gisborne on a sunny afternoon. Baritone Bob Ash came over from Tylden to be compère for the performance.

Patrons got an early opportunity to test their voices by singing along with the chorus of Cwm Rhondda. This was followed by two other Welsh tunes and What Would I Do Without My Music.

John Hales and Geoff Serpell melodramatically presented the humorous Gendarmes’ Duet before the choir launched into  a medley of toe-tapping American Gospel songs, Rushan Hewawasam and Drew Hopkins then sang a lovely tenor duet with Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears.

Some opera followed with the Anvil Chorus from Il Trovatore complete with Col Evans on anvil. The beautiful Anfonaf Angel was next and then the musically challenging modern work Pemulwuy. The first half concluded with a new arrangement of When the Saints with the audience having a good sing before interval.

The second half opened with the rousing Let All Men Sing before showcasing the talent from within the choir ranks with Bendigonian Ken Simpson featuring on Highland Cathedral, Ed Hughes on Danny Boy, Drew Hopkins with An Eriskay Love Lilt, Stephen Pepper on All Through the Night and Barry McMahon with Loch Lomond, complete with audience participation with the chorus.

Local man Stephen Pepper came back to teach patrons some Welsh, in his inimitable Welsh way and then John Hales returned to offer the stirring Rule Britannia.

The finale was a selection of songs from the First World War, ending up with ‘Smile, smile, smile’ which nicely echoed the audience’s obvious pleasure at the end.

Comments from audience members included:

Wonderful performance.

Very good.  Darren

Excellent as always. A joy to hear.

Nicely relaxed concert.

Absolutely marvellous. Was a treat!  ~ Eileen

Very pleasant and entertaining. Enjoyed every bit. Thank you all.

Very enjoyable. Thank you.

Delightful. ~ Carole

Thanks. Only one tune I did not know. Very, very good. ~ Cornelia

Very entertaining.

Love the part singing – Welsh and whatever.

Lovely afternoon, choir harmonise beautifully. Have really enjoyed singing along. ~ Gwen

Very enjoyable – beautiful harmonising. The black shirts and red ties look very jazzy. Lovely afternoon  thank you. ~ Rae

After three visits to various venues in Victoria we hope to see this choir many more times!!! ~ Sheila

Great concert – wonderful feeling of camaraderie – spilled out into the audience. Maybe another ”Australian” song- Pemulwuy was beautiful. ~ Shirley

Loved every minute of it.  ~ Alison

I’ll go anywhere to hear these great singers. ~ Norma

Great performance. Enjoyable and entertaining.

Most enjoyable! Excellent singing, entertaining humour, good background information.

Il Trovatore gets a tick. Loved all of it. Exit – great and hymn finished off a lovely afternoon!!