On 15th November the Choir Hall in Caldicot laid witness to an incredible joint concert of Caldicot Male Voice Choir and invited choir, the fabulous Beaufort Male Choir.
Conducted by Siȃn Hatton and accompanied by Olivia Dance and John Nicholson, Caldicot thrilled the audience by opening with Bohemian Rhapsody to mark the 50th Anniversary of the recording by Queen. , Conducted by Shirley Anne James this was followed by ‘Safwrn yn y Bwlch’ telling of Wales’ search for independence. The programme continued with new versions of ‘Only You’ , ‘Days’ and heart rending ‘Anfonaf’Angel’.
Beaufort took to the stage, conducted by Craig James and accompanied by Marilyn Selfe to open with the rousing ‘Soldier’s Chorus’ and followed with contrasting ‘Ave Maria’, ‘The Wind Beneath my Wings’, ‘Somewhere Only We know’ which was broadcast and sung by Lily Allen included in the John Lewis Christmas advert many years ago and finalising with ‘Uprising’.
Beaufort returned to the stage for their second performance and continued the Queen connection with ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’ and included ‘Yma o Hyd’ with soloist Conrad O’Leary, African ‘Siyahamba’ and finalised with the appropriate ‘World in Union’.
Caldicot highlighted its second performance with ‘You Are The Reason’, the poignant, reminiscent ‘A Miner’s Song’ conducted by Shirley Anne James and finalised with ‘This is the Moment’ from the musical Jeckyl and Hyde. Caldicot was delighted to receive a standing ovation from the choristers of Beaufort at the end.
Following presentations to members of both music teams, Beaufort was presented with a commemorative slate plaque by Caldicot Chairman, Leon Jones to Beaufort Chairman Leon Prop.
The wonderful concert by two incredible choirs finalised with the joint singing of the Welsh Hymns ‘Deus Salutis’ to the tune of Llef conducted by Sian Hatton and finally ‘Gwahoddiad’ conducted by Craig James.
The evening finalised with an incredible ‘Afterglow’ in which both choirs continued to demonstrate their diversity by singing a wide range of songs from their repertoires without accompaniment. Conor O’Leary conducted Beaufort while Alyn Dawe directed Caldicot in arguably one of the most enjoyable afterglows seen at the choir hall.
