Strathmore – Côr Bach

“Pure pleasure – keep up the good work!” “Very uplifting” “As usual – excellent.”

We were very happy to be invited back to Strathmore after two years for another Sunday afternoon concert, and it was gratifying to see extra chairs being set up in the aisles. After an opening bracket which included Morte Criste and O Gymru, the audience was eager to join in with the chorus on Cwm Rhondda, along with flute accompaniment by Bendigonian member Nigel McGuckian.  This was followed by the first of our talented cohort of soloists with Rushan Hewawasam presenting a beautiful arrangement of Suddenly from the movie Les Misérables.

Faleiry spoke about the many sorts of love before the choir launched into The Rose, You’ll Never Walk Alone, Si Hei Lwli ‘Mabi and the Bryn Terfel number Anfonaf Angel with flute. Roger Bartlett added the wistful Josh Groban song Broken Vow.

From being slaves to love, choristers turned the clock back to being Hebrew slaves in the chorus from Nabucco, Speed Your Journey. Nigel switched instruments to piccolo for the slavery-related themes in Battle Hymn of the Republic with patrons lustily singing the final bars to take them into the interval.

The Welsh hymn Rachie led into the Fantasia on Welsh Airs with Rushan and Nigel combining sensitively on Gentle Dove and finishing with more wholehearted audience participation on Men of Harlech in Welsh and English.

Baritone Bob Ash tugged at the emotions with the topical song Shelter, followed by Ed Hughes with Danny Boy and local bass Barry McMahon on Wild Mountain Thyme.

Coming so closely after the centenary of the Battle of Fromelles, compère Tony Davies spoke about War and Music by way of introducing a medley of songs from World War One. With patrons joining in on the first and last tunes, the choir sang Tipperary and Roses of Picardy before Tony read three verses of the Christmas 1915 poem with Rushan singing Stille Nacht in the background. Keep the Home Fires Burning and Pack Up Your Troubles rounded off the concert on a more upbeat note and everyone was only too happy to smile, smile, smile at the end of a marvellous concert.

Ann Black thanked us on behalf of the church and presented colourful bouquets to Faleiry and Lorna. We, in turn, thanked her by honouring her request to surround the audience and bid them farewell with Troyte’s Chant.

Comments from members of the audience included:

Thoroughly enjoyable, much loved your singing over many, many years. Pure pleasure to have you visit Strathmore again and hear your voices locally to my home.  Congratulations, keep up the good work.  Barbara

Beautiful afternoon’s music. Very uplifting. Cheryl

As usual – excellent. Sheila.