What an incredible two concerts on March 31st and April 1st! Caldicot Male Voice Choir was proud to present its Annual concert at its own Choir Hall, firstly on Friday to invited guests, vice presidents and choir supporters and duplicated again on Saturday 1st April open to the public.
The concerts, hosted eloquently by compère Stephen Dance and supported by the incredible voice of top tenor Rhydian Jenkins (who had previously sang for us in 2019), accompanied by the talented pianist Kim Lloyd Jones, the choir, conducted by Siȃn Hatton and Shirley Anne James and accompanied by John Nicholson presented a wide range of songs to a packed house on both occasions. These included Welsh favourites ‘Rachie’, ‘Y Tangnefeddwr’, ‘Llef’, ’Anfonaf Angel’, ‘Calon Lȃn’ and the premiere by the choir of ‘Yma o Hyd’.
Interspersed in the programme were favourites ‘16 Tons’, ‘Rock a my Soul’, ‘A Miner’s Song’, ‘76 Trombones’, ‘Diridonda’, ‘Shenandoah’, ‘Benedictus’, ‘The Prayer’ (accompanied by Kim Lloyd Jones), ‘Ride the Chariot’ (soloists David Gould and Siȃn Hatton), ‘Morte Criste’ in which Rhydian Jenkins sang the solo part and of course finally ‘World in Union’ and National Anthem ‘Mae Hen Wlad fy Nhadau.
Among the Choir were three choristers making their debuts at an Annual concert; Matthew Johns, Owen Johnson and Nick Dance. A daunting experience but thoroughly enjoyed by all three.
Rhydian’s performance was outstanding and received two well deserved standing ovations on Saturday evening. Included in his varied repertoire songs from opera including ‘Una Furtiva Lagrima’, ‘En fermant les yeux’, Mozart’s ‘Il mio Tesoro’, and ‘Vainemamaint, ma bien- aimee’. Included were Welsh songs; the beautiful ‘Mae Hiraeth yn y Mor’ and ’Llanrwst’ and finally Ivor Novello’s ‘Shine Through My Dreams’. But how will anyone who was there ever forget his incredible, bilingual (English and Welsh) rendition of Bring Him Home from Les Misérables?
On both evenings the audiences went home in the knowledge that they had experienced a wonderful musical evening which they will hold long in their memories.
The Choir as expected rounded off both evenings with their usual, but thoroughly enjoyed unaccompanied ’Afterglow’ which included many favourite songs from past concert repertoires.
The whole weekend proved that the Caldicot Male Voice Choir is back with a vengeance.