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It is not often that two National Eisteddfod winning Choirs appear together on the same stage, in a wonderful setting such as Tabernacl Baptist Chapel (Eglwys y Tabernacl) right in the centre of Cardiff, but such an evening of wonderful Welsh Male Voice Choir Music was presented to a small audience on 27th November 2012. Rebuilt in its present classical style in 1865, the Tabernacl Baptist Chapel is a beautiful Grade 2 listed building in The Hayes, Cardiff and will celebrate its’ bicentenary in 2013. Services are conducted entirely in Welsh and interestingly it was the venue for the first ever Songs of Praise broadcast by the BBC and The National Millenium Service for Wales took place here in 2000. You can visit the Church’s website on www.tabernaclcaerdydd.org.uk
Côr Meibion Caldicot combined together with Côr Meibion Taf to present a varied mix of choral music to a knowledgable audience made up mostly of members of the Welsh speaking chapel congregation. The audience was thrilled when almost 90 voices combined to present the choral classics Llanfair and Morte Criste, conducted by Siân Hatton, accompanied by Stephen Berry on the piano.
Côr Meibion Caldicot followed with a varied mix of A Cole Porter Medley which includes Who wants to be a millionaire, Another opening – another show, Just one of those things and You do something to me, followed by Welsh love song, Lleucu Llwyd and The Lost Chord, (Stephen Berry – organ, John Nicholson -piano) once sung by Caruso at a benefit concert for the families of those lost in the Titanic sinking in 1912.
The choral pieces were supported by our own Musical Director and soloist, Siân Hatton who enchantingly sang Somewhere, from Porgy and Bess and I Could Have Danced All Night from the musical, My Fair Lady. A late replacement stand in soloist, New Zealand tenor Richard Chambers also supported with his amazing tenor voice.
Côr Meibion Taf, conducted by Rob Nicholls opened their completely Welsh programme from the heights of the Gallery with Laudamus and Troyte’s Chant followed later in the evening with the foot tapping polka, Dashenka, accompanied by Stephen Berry and choral Welsh classic, Nant y Mynydd. The choirs once more combined with O Gymru (soloist Caldicot’s Tom Hole, piano Stephen Berry), a Welsh song extolling the virtues of Wales and stating how wonderful it is to live here among the country’s hillls and valleys.
The audience was captivated by Côr Meibion Caldicot’s performances, accompanied by John Nicholson, of Can You Feel the Love Tonight (soloist Sian Hatton) and conducted by Shirley Ann James, Yfory and African Trilogy (soloist Caldicot’s Jason Dawe), followed later with the soothing An Evening’s Pastoral and You Raise Me Up, once recorded by West Life and Josh Grogan among many others. Côr Meibion Caldicot was conducted on the night, jointly by Siân Hatton and Shirley Ann James and accompanied by John Nicholson and Stephen Berry.
This wonderful, combined concert closed with both choirs, with Stephen Berry accompanying on the organ, presenting the audience with the rousing favourite Welsh Hymns, Gwahoddiad (Welcome) and Tydi a Roddaist with their glorious ‘Amens’ guaranteed to raise the hair on the back of the neck. Finally ending with Hen Wlad fy Nhadau, sung by everyone,both choirs and the audience left knowing that they had taken part in a unique, special evening in this iconic, classical, historical building.
Following copious, tasty, welcome and much appreciated refreshments supplied by supporters of Tabenacl Baptist Chapel, both choirs retired to the local O’Neils bar in the Haymarket to imbibe of more refreshments, and create a brilliant ‘Afterglow’ by both choirs. Many favourable comments were received from the audience, including arguably one of Wales’ top conductors Dr Alwyn Humphreys, who recently conducted us at the Wales’ Remembrance Service at nearby St David’s Hall on November 3rd and legendary Welsh broadcaster and Rugby commentator Huw Llewelyn Davies, recently retired after commentating for the BBC at the Welsh National Eisteddfod for the past 33 years. Having been given details of this website, both Dr Humphreys and Huw Llewelyn Davies indicated that they would make every effort to come to our Annual 50th Anniversary concert next year. Many of the audience commented on how clear our Welsh diction was and were surprised to learn that very few of our choir are Welsh speakers.
Footnote:
Côr Meibion Taf was formed in April 2004 and practices at the Tabernacl Chapel. Conducted by Rob Nicholls who has led them to winning first Prizes at the National Eisteddfodau in Ebbw Vale in 2010 and Cardiff in 2008, the choir performed at the Palacia de la Musica in Torrevieja, Spain in October 2011. You can see and hear them perform by clicking on the Youtube link http://www.vivatv.es/viva-tv-programmes/70-an-evening-with/513-cor-meibion-taf-welsh-male-voice-choir (you may have to move an advert out of the way) or watch their 2008 performance at the National Eisteddfod on http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/eisteddfod2008/sites/results/results1.shtml?rhif=30