St David’s Day Concert

For the second year running we were pleased to be back at Alexander Theatre for our annual concert. The choir, splendid with their buttonhole daffodils, came on with musical director Rushan Hewawasam and accompanist Mary O’Driscoll. With the audience respectfully standing, our mini-orchestra splendidly and heraldically set the tone before the choir launched into the famous Welsh National Anthem – Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (Land of my Fathers).

Compère Drew Hopkins welcomed everybody and acknowledged Rushan and Mary and introduced the opening bracket, a collection of well-known Welsh songs, starting with Cwm Rhondda (Rhondda Valley), Gwahoddiad (Invitation) with Rushan singing the second verse in English, then the modern patriotic song O Gymru (O Wales) and the classic Rhys (Grant me the Peace). For the next song Suo Gân (Lullaby), Rushan accompanied tenors Michael Gooey and Stephen Pepper combining on a duet with the choir backing them.

Before the next bracket, all three tunes by the contemporary Welsh composer Robat Arwyn, Drew introduced the musicians – Leader Marianne Rothschild (violin), Jill Griffiths (double bass), Roxy Kavanagh (flute) and Lewis Gray (trumpet). The first song was Bendigedig with Welsh words to the tune Benedictus from the Catholic mass. Rushan’s amazing red dreamcoat seemed appropriately cardinal – or even Conclave-ready. This was followed by Yfory (Tomorrow) and our favourite heartbreaker Anfonaf Angel (I will Send an Angel).

Tissues tucked away, the Celtic group Bhán Tré came to the stage with their traditional Irish song Siúil a Rúin/Shule Aroon followed by guitarist Geraldine’s own song By the Liffey.

After the applause had died down, the choir was up again with Hafan Gobaith (Haven of Hope), made famous by Bryn Terfel as a fundraiser for this children’s hospice. Rushan then took the microphone to dedicate the first half final song, What Would I do Without my Music, to Faleiry Koczkar, acknowledging her thirty years as Musical Director, her inspiration and for being an enduring and active mentor to Rushan and the choir generally.

The second half opened with the multilingual stirring African Prayer by Enoch Sontonga. The prayer theme was continued with Y Darlun (The picture) which described the comfort derived from a picture of Dürer’s praying hands. This was followed by the heartrending Prayer of the Children, the emotions of which certainly had an effect on choristers and audience alike.

Then it was time for the mood to lift with Bhán Tré giving us more toe-tapping songs Whiskey in the Jar and The Parting Glass with the choir joining in at the end with ‘Good night and joy be to you all’ before a boisterous two bodhran reel, appreciated by huge applause.

Drew introduced the next bracket, full of nostalgia for the 60s and 70s and, to remind choristers of their misspent youth, all of them donned sunglasses to the great amusement of patrons, a great proportion of whom also remembered those halcyon days. After adjusting their eyes, the choir sang Always on my Mind, with sensitive and beautiful accompaniment by Mary and the other musicians. Next was a Beatles medley comprising I Wanna Hold your Hand, Yesterday, Let it Be with a great solo by John White and finishing with the metrically challenging Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da. As a surprise, Rushan leapt on the piano and led the whole theatre in an impromptu performance of Hey Jude which delighted everybody.

The last bracket comprised tunes from the musicals and so, after a successful  spectacle swap, Rushan stayed to accompany the choir on The Impossible Dream followed by a glorious amalgamation of You’ll Never Walk Alone and Climb Every Mountain with Bhán Tré helping with this finale.

As the vigorous applause subsided, the choir split into two, walking off the stage to each side to surround the audience before bidding farewell to everybody with their a cappella version of Dylan Thomas’s Sunset Poem. In the silence that followed, the closing words reminded audience and choristers, music team and musicians, what a wonderful afternoon this shared musical experience had been.

Feedback comments

It was exceptional. Thank you to all!!!

Melodic and uplifting. Thank you.

Heart-warming, beautiful, good for the soul.

Fantastic concert. Many thanks.

Last song was so moving! Loved it! WONDERFUL!

Lovely performance, thank you.

Really enjoyed it. Rushan is great!

Would have liked a few more Welsh songs/hymns. Well done with ‘Under MilkWood’

Love your outfits, Rushan!

Beatles set – John White’s solo was great.

Rushan is doing a great job as musical director.

Really enjoyed today’s concert. The song ‘Prayer of the Children’ was so moving, I felt like crying, a real highlight.

Professional and entertaining. Balance of modern and traditional. Keep the Welsh & Celtic profile high.

What a fab time at the concert! Relished every moment and felt even better having come to a practise night with you. The conductor is perfect and added so much to the day. Thanks again. John

A very enjoyable concert, Rushan was fantastic, what energy.

I loved the concert and being a Liverpool supporter, I cried when the choir sang ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’.

It’s the first time I have been to a Welsh Choir concert, I’m so glad I came and I loved it. I’m coming again next year.

I don’t think I have enjoyed a Sunday afternoon of music like this for a long time. Clearly a lot of time has gone into the preparation. Rushan is a very clever, dynamic musician with a love of music which he is able to share with the choir and the audience. I suspect some of your rehearsals could be very drawn out! Thanks again.   Kenneil.