Photos by Colleen Gauntlett (Left click on images to enlarge)
What an incredible night at Caldicot Leisure Centre on Saturday 6th September! The Choir sang its heart out perfectly, the Mabe Ladies Choir conjoined in wonderful harmony with Caldicot’s performance perfectly and Rebecca John from the BBC’s Wales Today programme compèred the evening with delightful charm, precision and engaged the audience with her perfect professionalism. All three combined to produce a night that the capacity audience of about 500 will remember for a very long time.
The Choir toured Cornwall last year and shared the stage at Truro with the Mabe and was delighted that this fabulous choir accepted our invitation to sing with us again at the Gala Concert a year later.
The quality of the superlative performances was even more remarkable since the Caldicot Choir boasted nineteen new members singing in their first Gala Concert and the Mabe Ladies Choir had made the long and tiring 200 mile journey from beautiful Cornwall to be with us. Those familiar with the practice needed to learn each piece in a choir will appreciate Caldicot’s magnificent achievement in producing such a quality performance with so many newcomers.
The programme had a wide ranging appeal, and two new pieces were premièred by Caldicot; ‘Nirvana’ (not the band) arranged by Stephen Berry and ‘On the Street Where You Live’. Show casing twelve items in all, from the spiritual ‘Ride the Chariot’ featuring soloists Siân Hattton and David Gould, through two Welsh hymns; ‘Llef” and ‘Rachie’ , followed by haunting ‘Dafydd y Garreg Wen’ (not sung since about 1985) to foot tapping ‘The Rhythm of Life’ and the soft, melodic hymn ‘He’, the Choir and its musical team of Siân Hattton, Shirley Anne James, John Nicholson and Stephen Berry produced a wide range of male voice choral music to suit all tastes in a performance that can only enhance the standing of Caldicot Male Voice Choir as one of the leading choirs in Wales.
In a contrasting choral style which wonderfully complemented Caldicot’s, the award winning Mabe Ladies Choir led by the ebullient ‘Mrs Crescendo’, Amanda Ward and accompanied by the talented Rico Gerber, also produced a mix of style, from opening with ‘Bright Morning Stars’ to finalising with the humorous Groucho Marx song ‘Lydia, the tattooed lady’. In between we were treated to the beautiful Korean song, ‘Ahrirang’ with accompanying percussion, ‘In Praise of Cornwall’ (which matched ‘O Gymru’ sung by the men, praising Wales; soloist Tom Hole to finalise their performance) and the technically demanding and fast moving ‘J’entends le Moulin – I hear the Windmill. Following the interval the Mabe’s programme included ‘One Voice’, ‘Here comes the Sun’, ‘The Wayfaring Stranger’ and also ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight’ by Elton John, from the Disney cartoon, The Lion King. This latter piece is also a firm favourite in Caldicot’s repertoire.
Sadly, the concert had to end and it closed with both National anthems. Everyone in the audience was thrilled that the Mabe Ladies Choir paid Wales a fabulous tribute by learning ‘Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau’ to sing along with us. Further, knowing that Caldicot Choir’s chosen charity for this year is Prostate Cymru, the ladies were pleased to present a cheque for £160 as a result of their own fund raising efforts. Thank you so much. Diolch yn fawr!
Both choirs, Rebecca John and our supporters made their way along the banner lined route to the Choir Hall (it’s only 75 metres) for a traditional, but no less enjoyable ‘Afterglow’ where, suitably fuelled, everyone enthusiastically joined in a celebratory party for which Caldicot Male Voice Choir is rightly famous. Sadly the Mabe Ladies had to go at 11-00 pm but we are sure that they had a wonderful and memorable visit to Wales. Thank you once again for joining us in a special evening.
Many, many thanks and well done to all (too many to mention by name) who contributed to such a wonderful evening, from those who set up the hall, to bar staff, Leisure Centre staff and the ladies of the choir who as always support their menfolk in their singing. With such amazing support, dedicated choristers and a talented musical team, we are positive that following this Gala concert, the choir will climb to even greater choral heights.