Concert with Carella Choir
Rushan Hewawasam, a second tenor in Victoria Welsh Choir has also been the temporary Musical Director of the mixed Carella Choir, based in Beaumaris. Lorna Ogilvie similarly has been Carella’s accompanist as well as VicWelsh’s long-term pianist. As this was to be a farewell concert for them both with Carella, the idea of presenting a joint concert with VicWelsh came to pass at the Southern Community Church of Christ in Cheltenham.
As a rousing opening number, Rushan conducted both choirs on the anthemic Let Us All Sing. After the applause died down, compère Drew Hopkins introduced the music team and the opening bracket. Faleiry stepped on to the podium to lead VicWelsh through Gwŷr Harlech (Men of Harlech) with the audience eagerly joining in on the second English verse. This was followed by Blaenwern (Love Divine), O Gymru and the resounding Battle Hymn of the Republic with the audience again participating at the end.
A duet from the little-known musical Titanic was next and Drew dramatically set the scene as radioman Harold Bride (played by Tony Hosemans) set up the morse code machine. He was joined by fellow tenor Geoff Roberts as stoker Fred Barrett as they masterfully and heartachingly combined on The Night Was Alive and The Proposal to great acclaim.
The Carella choir then took to the stage and, with Rushan conducting, presented the beautiful Look at the World and Pie Jesu. Next was the African protest song Senzenina featuring Ridhwan Adjumain on the call with the choir responding to great effect complete with final footstomps. Even more challenging was the inspiring Honour the Earth by Sarah Hopkins which included the spoken word as well as choral singing and celestial Harmonic Whirlies.
Time again for two combined items. Faleiry stepped up to conduct Robat Arwyn’s Benedictus with the first verse sung by Shavin Perera, Ridhwan Adjumain, Devin Wijeyakoon and Stefan Stainwall.
Rushan then conducted both choirs on the iconic Pemulwuy complete with clapsticks.
After the interval Rushan led Carella on Billy Joel’s Lullaby with a sensitive solo by Barbara Burton. As this was their last time together with this choir, Rushan spoke about Lorna’s musicianship and, as a measure of his respect, he gently took over the piano to dedicate to her The Wind Beneath My Wings. Then it was back to the program with For Good and Bridge Over Troubled Water with a fine solo by Andrew Donaldson.
As the choir left the stage, guest tenor John Hales and Carella bass Geoff Serpell, both of whom are ex-VicWelsh singers, frocked up to brilliantly present the witty duet Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off from the famous Astaire and Rogers film Shall We Dance.
The considerable musical talents of individual choristers in VicWelsh were then highlighted as versatile compère Drew led the choir through the Toreador Song with Gallic aplomb. This was followed by the gentler Ar Lan Y Môr sung a cappella and then the emotional You’ll Never Walk Alone with solo by the mellifluous baritone Roger Bartlett. Working Man was next with another commanding performance by bass Barry McMahon.
Another bass Bob Ash was then joined in French police uniform by tenor Ed Hughes as they hugely entertained the assembled company with the famous Gendarmes’ Duet, resplendent with moustaches, French breadsticks and some nifty footwork, a variation on a pas de deux.
Suitably chastened but in good humour, Carella joined VicWelsh for the final combined items. With Faleiry conducting, Lorna on piano and Rushan on organ, the audience and choristers joined together to sing Hark the Herald Angels Sing and O Come All Ye Faithful plus reprise. Rushan then rehearsed patrons in the final choruses of When the Saints before conducting the assembly in this famous number right up to the triumphant Yeas!
As the excitement subsided, a vote of thanks and presentation of gifts was made by Margie Beadle to the prodigiously talented Lorna, Rushan and Faleiry.