Those who were there were fortunate to have witnessed an amazing Annual concert by Caldicot Male Voice Choir and supporting artiste Emilie Parry-Williams at its choir hall on April 11th.
With items conducted by Siȃn Hatton and Shirley Anne James and accompanied perfectly throughout on piano by Olivia Dance, the choir delighted the audience by opening the concert with ‘African Prayer’ followed by Vince Clark’s ‘Only You’ with Nigel Keen on flute, Calum Scott’s composition ‘You are the Reason’ and the Annual concert premiere of ‘Autumn Leaves’.
The delightful and talented Guest Artiste Emilie Parry-Williams amazed the audience with her incredible soprano voice by opening with ‘O Mio Babbino Caro’ from the Puccini opera ‘Gianni Schicchi’, followed by a fabulous interpretation of Bizet’s ‘Carmen Habanera’ and with the well-known Lerne and Lowe composition ‘I Could Have Danced All Night’.
The choir returned to the stage to present ‘Benedictus’ famously sung by the choir in Krakow, Bob Dylan’s ‘Make You Feel My Love’, the traditional ‘Give Me That Ol’ Time Religion’ and before the interval, the patriotic, rousing ‘Safwrn yn y Bwlch’.
The choir’s second half presentation included recently learned presentations of ‘Pan Fo’r Nos yn Hir’ by Ryan Davies, the return of Nigel Keen on flute to accompany ‘California Dreamin’’, ‘Days’ by Ray Davies of the Kinks and all-time favourite ‘Anfonaf Angel’ written by Robat Arwyn.
Emilie returned to the stage to open with wonderful performances of ‘Shall We Dance’, Manon’s ‘Adieu Notre Petite Table’ and finishing with a flourish ‘Meine Lippen Sie Kussen so Heiss’ from the operetta ‘Giuditta’.
The Choir finalised the concert with renditions of the popular ‘A Miner’s Song’, ’16 Tons’, a premiere at the hall of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ and finalising with arguably the choristers’ favourite ‘This is the Moment’ to rapturous and well deserved applause.
Following the concert Assistant Accompanist John Nicholson was thrilled to receive a certificate and badge commemorating his 25 years of continuous service to the choir and like-wise former chairman Graham ’Spike’ Hughes was, following his retirement was proud and honoured to receive a special certificate to convey a Lifetime Achievement and Honorary Vice President Award.
Emilie was also presented with a hand made, framed commemorative plaque as appreciation for an immaculate performance.
There is little doubt that this concert was the most accomplished, polished performance by Caldicot Male Voice Choir at the Choir Hall in recent years and proves that the choir like many others, has at last emerged strongly from the problems that Covid restrictions imposed during the difficult times of 2019 and 2020.