Photos by Coll, Lyn and Leon. Left click on images to enlarge.
On Saturday April 27th the choir made its way down the M5 to fulfill a commitment made a year ago at the home of Glamorgan County Cricket Club, The Swalec Stadium in Cardiff. Last year, the Choir was privileged to welcome Sir Ian Botham at the end of the Cardiff stage of his Round Britain Walk to raise money for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research and he suggested that we perform a concert at Taunton, the home of Somerset County Cricket Club, to further help this worthy charity. The Haematology Unit at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff is a U.K. Centre of Excellence for this research and benefits enormously from funds raised by the charity, so although we made the journey to Taunton, the charity is close to home.
The retiring Mayor of Taunton Deane, Cllr. Terry Hall and his wife, Mayoress Ann have also nominated the charity for this year and we were only too delighted to perform a concert in aid of his appeal at the magnificent Temple Methodist Church near the wonderfully picturesque Vivary Park.
Under the high, wooden vaulted roof, overlooked from the gallery and in front of a magnificent Victorian organ the choir, conducted by Musical Director Siân Hatton and accompanied by Stephen Berry and John Nicholson, was proud to present to an enthusiastic audience, containing as ever a large exile Welsh contingent (who were happily joining in), many of the pieces sung at its recent 50th Anniversary Concert. These included rousing Llanfair, Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, Alexander’s Ragtime Band, O Iesu Mawr, A Cole Porter Medley and the melodic calmer pieces of The Lord’s Prayer, Schubert’s 23rd Psalm, Eli Jenkin’s Prayer, Lleucu Llwyd (replacing Juanita) and an Evening’s Pastorale. Accompanist Stephen Berry also enhanced the choir’s fabulous performance of An American Trilogy, made famous by Elvis Presley by accompanying the choir on the magnificent organ. The programme repertoire effectively demonstrated the versatility of the choir by employing traditional Welsh Male Voice singing in such a wide variety of music. Jason Dawe provided the solo parts of African Trilogy and Tommy Hole once again (no Shân Cothi this time, Tom) provided the solo second verse of O Gymru. In a change to the original programme, the choir provided a rousing rendition, again resonantly accompanied by Stephen Berry on the organ, of the all time favourite of Methodist preacher Charles Wesley, Morte Criste, (When I Survey the Wond’rous Cross) written by Isaac Watts.
The evening’s performance was enhanced with two pieces by the delightful talents of young Hong Kong student pianist , Raymond Hung who with organist Miles Quick, Musical Director of Queen’s College, also gave a wonderful unique presentation of Raymond’s composition a Tintinnulation for Glockenspiel and Organ.
The evening concluded, following a standing ovation, with tributes and thanks to all the choir, Siân, Stephen and John, Raymond and Miles from the organisers of the concert and the retiring Mayor of Taunton Deane, Cllr Terry Hall for a wonderful evening’s entertainment on behalf of the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research charity.
The Choir then braved the cold night air to walk the half mile or so through the town centre to the candle lit Parlour Rooms in the wonderfully restored Castle Square for a well-deserved thirst quencher or two. The afterglow of traditional choir harmonies was sung to a small, surprised but transfixed audience on a hen night (good luck with your wedding day, Stephanie) and the lads were disappointed that the pub ran out of beer and they had to go on shorts. Never mind, back on the bus – home time!
To see the report on the Swalec day please click on the link Swalec Stadium