Regent Theatre, Yarram

After several postponements we finally got down to the splendid Regent Theatre in Yarram for a Sunday afternoon concert with David Hobson, reprising, in part, our May 29 concert with him at MRC.

Marching in singing Gwŷr Harlech, the expectant assembly got to sing immediately with the English verses. Then it was straight into the Welsh medley with We’ll Keep a Welcome, Hymns and Arias, Calon Lân with David singing the first verse, Myfanwy hummed by the first tenors and finishing off with the popular Cwm Rhondda along with audience participation on the last chorus.

Compère Drew Hopkins, a proud native of South Gippsland, welcomed everybody and introduced the music team of Lorna Ogilvie and Rushan Hewawasam before the choir connected with the countryside on For the Beauty of the Earth. The equally bucolic Nant Y Mynydd (Mountain Stream) was next with a finely modulated first verse sung by a quartet of Bendigo tenors comprising Garry Salisbury, Stephen Pepper, Alastair Greenall and Rhys Parry. The well-known Blaenwern (Love divine, all loves excelling) rounded off this Welsh bracket.

Then it was time for the star of the show to step up and, with his very talented accompanist David Cameron, showcase his supreme musical versatility with Oh what a beautiful morning/ Younger than springtime. Prefaced by witty observations about the stories behind the operas, he magnificently delivered two arias – E la Solita storia del pastore from L’arlesiana and Non ti Scordare ti mi which was definitely unforgettable. Reminiscing about an early part in Oliver led to David then switching characters to bring Fagin to life with  a very dramatic and imaginative Reviewing the Situation.

Switching back into English, David then led the choir with the powerful How Great Thou Art which concluded the first half of the concert on a musical high point.

After the interval, David was back with the Welsh language on the heartstring tugging Unwaith Eto’n Nghymru Annwyl (Once Again in Dear Wales) which traditionally welcomes expatriates from around the world back to the old country at the National Eisteddfod. This sense of homecoming and the longing all expatriates have was beautifully captured in the next song Hiraeth followed by expressions of national pride in Ar Lan Y Môr (By the Sea) and 

O Gymru (Oh Wales).

David then came back and carried forward the theme but this time featuring the Irish tune Raglan Road. Referencing an earlier role in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, he then entranced patrons with the delightful showtune Hushabye Mountain. He explained the story of Don Quixote before singing Man of La Mancha from the eponymous 1965 musical and The Impossible Dream which featured on David’s 2017 best-selling album.

Intriguingly, he then started to divest himself of his jacket and his tie became a headband as he summonsed up the choristers to join him in a rollicking and quite athletic performance of I Am a Pirate King from The Pirates of Penzance. After that, the Regent patrons were entirely happy to instantly upgrade their allegiances to a King.

After all the excitement on the high seas, it was baritone Roger Bartlett’s task to calm things down with the beautiful Welsh lullaby Suo Gân. Next was the ever-popular Danny Boy, sung by the choir and featuring Tony Hosemans on the first verse and Garry Salisbury on the second.

Rushan dedicated the next song Anfonaf Angel (I’ll Send An Angel) to all emergency and frontline workers who have kept us all going over the last two and more years.

Then it was back to Dublin with a virtuoso rendition of Spanish Lady with David on vocals and guitar, Geoff Roberts on castanets, Roger Bartlett on tambourine David on piano and Lorna on keyboard.  The erstwhile overdressed chorister-pirates heartily contributed with the clapping leading to the wonderful finale. The audience’s prolonged applause showed their huge appreciation for  the afternoon’s high-class entertainment. 

All that remained was the Welsh National Anthem Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau interspersed with Waltzing Matilda.