St David’s Day Celtic Concert

“I knew it would be good, but I didn’t realise how good.” “pure magic. Absolutely beautiful.” “finale was so moving, amazing. Thank you I will be back.” “The last hymn was still going through my head when I went to sleep.” “the most beautiful choir I have ever listened to and I will never forget tonight, it sounded as if the heavens opened and the angels descended.” 

Broadening the theme to include Scottish and Irish tunes proved to be a winning formula on St David’s Day Eve as a capacity audience took their seats at the Melbourne Recital Centre. We were also honoured by the presence of Heidi Victoria – the Victorian Minister of the Arts as well as Minister for Women’s Affairs – and of Kathryn Fagg the Chair of the MRC board.

To celebrate the name of our latest CD the concert launched off with the rousing Let All Men Sing.

Our distinguished guest conductor from Wales, Ilid Anne Jones (pictured below) then took over for a Welsh bracket of Rachie, Tydi A Roddaist and Rhys plus Benedictus showing the choir’s proficiency in a third language for the night.

Our guest choir, the Ceredigion WI Choir under the direction of Llinos Griffiths and accompanied by Alwena Lloyd Williams, came out next and delighted us with the musicality we expect from Wales with Cân Y Mileniiwm, Ffosfelen, Suo Gân and Cariad. 

Musical Director Faleiry Koczkar then set up her Welsh harp to accompany Côr Bach in the traditional Northern Irish tune Carrickfergus with a beautiful solo by baritone Roger Bartlett. As the melancholia faded, the audience was brought quickly back to reality as Chris Bouwmeester skirled into the auditorium with his Scottish bagpipes. Having announced his presence, he ascended the stage and skilfully played the introduction to Highland Cathedral, a stirringly nationalistic tune performed by the choir and a stentorian solo by bass Tom Morgan, as pictured above by David Barrett.

Ilid retook the podium to conduct her own arrangement of a choir favourite Anfonaf Angel, which we had first heard sung by Bryn Terfel in London in July 2012.

The first half closed with Faleiry energetically directing us through the modern and musically demanding Pemulwuy along with a definitive encore.

After interval Ilid was back conducting us with the stirring Welsh tune Yr Utgorn – The Trumpet. Llinos took over the podium to conduct the two choirs in a bilingual version of the beautiful Finlandia.

A humorous interval followed with North Walian Stephen Pepper educating the audience in some snippets of Ceredigion/Cardiganshire history and the fact that the Women’s Institute movement started 99 years ago in LlanfairPG. To the astonished delight of the ladies and the audience, the longest Welsh name was revealed in all its linguistc glory in a banner held up for all to see and accompanied by the choir singing it for the benefit of non-Welsh speakers. Suitably impressed, the ladies came to the front and gave everyone another very polished performance of Let All the World, Rho Gymorth dy Law, Mil Harddach and the delightful Trwy’r Nos Trwy’r Dydd. They then resumed their positions at either end of VicWelsh, and we all launched into a spirited version of When the Saints Go Marching In, accompanied by Suzanne and Trent. Being a tune everyone knows, the audience were then invited to contribute to the chorus which they did enthusiastically and several times.

After all that excitement, our extremely capable and personable compère Drew Hopkins skilfully took the temperature down by joining Rushan Hewawasam in the achingly nostalgic duet about the role of Ellis Island in processing 17 million immigrants to the US – Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears. Beautifully modulated and articulated by both tenors, their emotive performance drew much deserved and sustained applause.

But more talent from within the ranks was to come. In our homage to the Celtic feel for the concert the next bracket was entitled Celtic Caprice. The Welsh were honoured with Gwŷr Harlech, the Scottish with The Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomon’ sung with passionate style by bass Barry McMahon; Ed Hughes tugged at the heart-strings with a lovely Danny Boy accompanied by violin and mandolin; and silky smooth Roger Bartlett conjured up the Hebridean mists in An Eriskay Love Lilt. After this quick musical trip around the British Isles, everybody was feeling so good that we finished off the bracket in the most appropriate style with Auld Lang Syne. It was wonderfully fitting to see both choirs and all the audience linking hands in the time-honoured way.

But then, to cement our friendship with the Ceredigion choristers and their travelling companions, as well as with all the expatriate Welsh in the audience, we had to finish off with our modern arrangement of Waltzing Matilda. The verses were finely sung by Drew and bass Geoff Serpell, skilfully combining their voices in exquisite harmony. From the stage it was a moving and stirring sight to see the audience rise to their feet as the lovely soprano and alto voices came over the top of the men with the unforgettable words of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.

Emotionally exhausted and clutching tissues, the audience wanted something more but were not sure what. So, to the musical accompaniment of piano, violin and mandolin, both choirs came down from their stage of musical triumph and surrounded the stalls. With the expectant patrons hushed, the wonderful words of Dylan Thomas gently blessed the milk-wooden walls and cast a final spell over everybody as we farewelled them with Eli Jenkins’ Prayer.

Audience Comments

It was a wonderful concert, a truly enjoyable evening. I knew it would be good, but I didn’t realise how good.

The final number where the choir members stood in the aisles and sang was pure magic. Absolutely beautiful.

The concert was excellent. The mix of male and female voices was also good. The finale was so moving, amazing. Thank you – I will be back.

The last hymn was still going through my head when I went to sleep. Thank you all.

I loved the variety of Celtic music – bagpipes too. I loved the tribute to an Aboriginal hero. Thank you for Waltzing Matilda too. What a wonderful evening, and the soloists were superb – Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears

It was the most beautiful choir I have ever listened to and I will never forget tonight – it sounded as if the heavens opened and the angels descended. ~ Harry (92 years old)

Little idiosyncrasies are enjoyed by concert-goers (explosive “bong” in Billabong) and add life to a song.

I love Welsh content, but it was great to have the additional Scottish/Irish content. Piper was great. Soloists very good.

Lorna Ogilvie – pianist – is outstanding in performance and support to the choir.

The pianist for the men’s choir was superb. 5+!

A lovely well-balanced show. A lovely venue. First time. Celtic theme was a great idea. Even though I am 100% Welsh. Cymru am byth.

Excellent and high-class.

I loved seeing Llanfair… etc. It’s the only Welsh I remember.

We always enjoy the enriching aspects of including soloists and musicians in the programme.

Good balance of material and type of presentation (Choir, soloists, small groups, different accompaniment). MC has clear diction and interesting relaxed commentary.

It is a wonderful choir full of personalities and with a vigour and verve hard to find in choirs of this type nowadays. Their repertoire is extensive and increasing, and it is to be hoped that younger members can be attracted to it to maintain the excellent reputation in years to come. Thank you for giving such pleasure to so many.

~ Noel