Barwon Heads – Côr Bach

“An afternoon of musical bliss!!” “An emotional afternoon.” “The sound spine-tingling!” ” Gorgeous voices” “great participation for the audience” “Da iawn! Absolutely fantastic”

On a very fresh day the choir was delighted to put on a wide-ranging concert for the Barwon Heads Fine Music Society. From their fulsome appreciation of our opening number What Would I Do Without My Music, it was clear that the audience comprised a large number of fellow musicians. After Morte Criste and O Gymru the first bracket finished with a rousing Working Man from soloist bass Geoff Serpell.

Faleiry explained that the next six songs were all about different aspects of love.  Bass-baritone Roger Bartlett mellifluously daydreamed about Maria, which elicited many a misty eye. Emotions ebbed and flowed as the choir moved though The Rose, You’ll Never Walk Alone, a lullaby and Anfonaf Angel with sensitive and evocative flute by Bendigonian Nigel McGuckian. He also accompanied versatile compère Drew Hopkins and fellow tenor Rushan Hewawasam in the wistful Perhaps Love.

To calm everybody’s emotions the choir sang Benedictus before the epic Battle Hymn of the Republic, deftly interlaced with Nigel’s piccolo and Lorna Ogilvie’s magisterial command of the keyboard. As the wind whipped up from the bay, the packed audience was only too happy to join in (twice) with the powerful finishing chorus.   

With throats and eyes refreshed, patrons eagerly took their places for the second half. A Welsh bracket of Rachie and The Bells of Aberdovey led into O Gentle Dove with the practised duet of Drew and Rushan and Nigel on flute. The audience was invited to sing along to the English words of Men of Harlech which they did, happily and lustily.

By way of a comic interlude, tenor John Hales frocked up to join Geoff Serpell in the very entertaining duet Ah Still Suits Me from Showboat.

As the rain lashed in from the bay, choristers and patrons alike could sympathise with the poor Parisian workers as the choir launched into the medley from Les Misérables including fine solos from Rushan on I Dreamed A Dream and Roger on Bring Him Home.

The dramatic finale was a fitting end to an exceptional musical afternoon for everybody in the acoustically blessed hall. It only remained to bid a fond farewell to patrons with Troyte’s Chant and for a wonderful coming together of choir and audience in a really special experience.

Audience feedback included:

An afternoon of musical bliss!!  Allan

Great songs, great participation for the audience. An emotional afternoon.  John

Amazing concert. The sound spine-tingling! Special mention to Lorna Ogilvie – an incredible accompanist. Faleiry Koczkar – great rapport with choir.  Jo

Beautiful music. Gorgeous voices.  Phillipa

Da iawn! Absolutely fantastic, very rousing, great variety of pieces.

Most enjoyable.

What I really liked were the songs but especially the explanations, soloists etc and the fact that the audience could sing as well. Gail

Thanks you for a wonderful afternoon’s entertainment. It is so wonderful to hear male voices in harmony.  Lynne