On the 1st of July evening that our brief Welsh summer ended, the choir assembled at The St Pierre Resort between Caldicot and Chepstow to entertain a corporate meeting of Mobile Communication Networking companies sponsored by Vodaphone. After their evening dinner and coffees, the attentive and interested audience consisting of nearly two hundred corporate executives from world famous networking companies Juniper, Tellabs, Huawei, Ericsson, Aricent and Alcatel-Lucent were treated to a round-the-world, eclectic choral mix of songs.
Not knowing what to expect from a large Welsh Male Voice Choir (many had never heard one before), the audience were soon listening and looking on spellbound in amazement at our opening of the rousing Welsh hymn Llanfair followed by over six minutes of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. Off to Africa with the melodic African Trilogy in which Jason Dawe sang the solo part and on then to the romantic Welsh Yfory contrasting with the uplifting Puccini’s Nessun Dorma (on a night when Italy lost 4 – 0 to Spain in Kiev) and the haunting, quiet Eli Jenkin’s Prayer sung to Troyte’s Chant. Back to Wales with the passionate O Gymru with Tom Hole singing the solo second verse. The by now totally captivated audience, were finally treated to the classic American Trilogy made famous by Elvis Presley (no Siân, he is not living in Porth in the Rhondda with his mother. Everyone knows he’s on the moon). The choir was conducted in her own individual style, without a sheet of music in sight (how does she do that?), by Siân Hatton and expertly accompanied (although out of view) by John Nicholson and Steve Berry.
To a standing ovation and applause lasting over five minutes, the choir departed to the bar for well appreciated refreshments, courtesy of Vodaphone. After a brief spell of revitalising liquid refreshment, the hosts were treated to more choral impromptu singing in the bar by a small but enthusiastic group of ‘afterglow’ choristers. ‘Amazing’, ‘fantastic’,’ fabulous’, ‘unforgettable’, ‘how do you create that incredible sound?’ (no, I’m not making it up) were among the many compliments received by the choir after the performance – thanks and good to be appreciated!
From the choir’s point of view, it was a pleasure to sing at a Corporate event to such an attentive and appreciative audience and we are sure they will leave Wales with lasting memories of a taste of Welsh culture and forget about the rain.
I apologise for the lower quality of photographs this time, but I couldn’t take photos of the choir performing while I was singing as well! Besides you need to turn, face the camera and smile if you want your picture taken!
Lyn
