Kyabram
“A superb afternoon of musical entertainment” “What a wonderful afternoon of music, of celebration and of emotion.” “Very IMPRESSIVE. Loved the humorous touches. Congratulations to all” “FANTASTIC” “You are the best. Beautiful to listen to.” “The choir is so “spot on”” “You sure know how to belt out a number!” “loved the talent and humour and most of all those magnificent voices!” “I could listen all day”
The choir was delighted to journey to the marvellous art déco Plaza Theatre, Kyabram for a Sunday afternoon concert. Supported by Campaspe Shire Council, it was a fundraiser for the local school chaplaincy program and was partly organised by two of our Bendigo chapter choristers – Ivan Ryall and Ken McMullan.
After our opening number What Would I Do Without My Music, Bendigonian baritone Ken Simpson led the choir into a Welsh medley comprising We’ll Keep a Welcome, Hymns and Arias (a teaser for what was to come), Calon Lân, Sospan Fach and Cwm Rhondda, with the audience eager to join in with the final Bread of Heaven chorus. Ambrose Morgan then took them on a wonderful peripatetic journey around Australia with his mythical but hapless Welsh rugby fans in his very humorous version of Hymns and Arias. Not to be out-trumped, compère Tony Davies told a fake news story purporting to explain why we had given up our white shirts in favour of black as well as shortening our red ties.
The second bracket was also unashamedly Welsh – the patriotic O Gymru, Anfonaf Angel with very fine flute accompaniment by Nigel McGuckian, the lullaby Si Hei Lwli ‘Mabi and a new song Y Tangnefeddwyr (The Peacemakers) with two explanatory English verses. Baritone Roger Bartlett stepped forward to tug at everybody’s heartstrings with the marvellous Homeward Bound. With the choir backing him, he smoothly moved into Amazing Grace before bass Graeme Sanderson gave a brief introduction before soloing on the emotional Working Man to sustained applause. Nigel then took up his piccolo for the choir’s rousing Battle Hymn of the Republic. Pre-warned and pre-warmed, the musically appreciative and talented audience was keen to make its singing mark with the final chorus. They were so good that Faleiry had them repeat it, which also gave patrons on the left-hand side a second opportunity to marvel at the technical wizardry of our accompanist Lorna Ogilvie.
With an outside temperature of 33C and something approaching that on the stage, under powerful lighting, choristers and audience were both happy to adjourn for air and drinks for twenty minutes.
Back we came to the popular Men of Harlech, sung in Welsh then English complete with serious Welsh flag waving by Gareth Jones, one of two of our Ballarat choristers on stage. The choir’s commissioned work Land of my Song came next with sensitive solos by Bendigo men John Adams and Garry Salisbury. This stunning work was followed by the composer’s very famous and popular Pemulwuy.
Linking up with the nostalgia themes of Homeward Bound and Land of my Song, bass-baritone Bob Ash next carried the audience into very emotional and patriotic territory with Eric Bogle’s Shelter, to much acclaim. Roger Bartlett came to the music stand again to join the choir in the superb and emotional roller-coaster Les Misérables medley, soloing on I Dreamed a Dream and Bring Him Home to great effect.
After extended applause, local organiser Christine Anderson took the microphone to thank all concerned, especially the choir, Faleiry and Lorna. Having been on a joint musical journey throughout the afternoon, we sortied from France back to Australia for the very special arrangement of Waltzing Matilda, with duettists Graeme Sanderson and Drew Hopkins, culminating in the simultaneous singing of the English chorus against the Welsh National Anthem.