Following the acceptance of an invitation last January from Bristol Rotarian John Bedford to sing at the world famous Colston Hall, Bristol as the main artists at its celebrated 50th Anniversary Annual Senior Citizen’s Concert, the choir was pleased and proud to fulfill its obligations by crossing the Severn Bridge on 7th October to arrive for the concert at 3pm. The first concert hall on the site opened in 1867 and has passed through four rebuilding programmes since that time. It survived the Blitz only to be burned down by a fire started by a discarded cigarette in 1945! What Hitler failed to achieve, was completed with a Woodbine! Recently refurbished with its now magnificent Entrance, the main performance hall seats 2,075 who are faced with a wonderful rising stage.
Entering through the new Entrance Hall and led through the labyrinth of stairs and corridors of the huge venue, the choir assembled in the basement setting below the stage before ascending onto the towering platform to a rapturous welcome of an audience of over 1500 in the splendid refurbished hall. The concert opened to a worldwide premiere of an organ and brass fanfare ‘The Wheel Turns and Turns Again’ composed by Steven Kings and performed by Simon Goodman on the magnificent organ and Brazzmatazz, who only came together as a group in 2010 but is now regarded as the South West’s première Brass Ensemble, based in Bristol.
Conducted by Siân Hatton and accompanied by Stephen Berry throughout, the Choir opened the first of its four components with a Cole Porter Medley, Lleucu Llwyd and He to an enthusiastic reception surprised by the power and volume of nearly sixty voices and yet containing contrasting soft melodic cadences in each piece. We had a bit of Uranium to spare and not enough Flashy Flunkies though!
The choir was followed by local artists, tenor Carlos Alonso and soprano Sarah Phllips, accompanied by Gerry Hoddinott. Born in Spain, Carlos is a trained Doctor and also managing director of an International Air Ambulance company. He only discovered his singing talents 6 years ago and has since been trained by Rosa Mannion, Professor of the Royal College of Music. Sarah has sung in many Gilbert and Sullivan Operas and currently sings with the Bath Light Opera Group where she is currently rehearsing the role of Mother Abess in The Sound of Music. The pair charmingly entertained the spellbound audience with renderings of Nella Fantasia, Somewhere over the Rainbow and a duet Time to Say Goodbye.
The incredible sound of Brassmatazz opened with unforgettable ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ by Queen and ensured that we’re having a good time, we’re having a ball by following up with Barry Manilow’s Even Now and finally MacCarthur Park. Their follow up second performance brought the audience into full song with a skillful play of a ‘Bless ’em All Medley’ including wartime favourites ‘Wish Me Luck as you Wave Me Goodbye, We’re Gonna Hang out our Washing (on the Siegfried Line), Apple Blossom Time, Kiss Me Goodnight Sergeant Major, Good Morning, and Bless ’em All, finally finishing with an impressive, foot tapping performance of Hello Dolly.
A further three performances by the choir included African Trilogy in which Siân took the solo part to the amazement of the audience, The Lost Chord, once sung by the great Caruso, You Raise Me Up, made famous by Westlife, Somewhere Out There from the Disney film ‘An American Tail’ and American Trilogy made famous by Elvis Presley (but also sung by Tom Jones). The choir’s performances were contrasted in style once again by soloists Carlos and Sarah with their enchanting recitals of Think of Me, Nessun Dorma and The Merry Widow Waltz in which they also showed off their terpsichorean skills to the delight of the audience. Carlos opinioned during the interval that he thought the sound of the Choir was ‘Beautiful’. Thank you, Carlos. Similar opinions were expressed by members of Brassmatazz and the organisers of the event.
The choir finalised the proceedings with their fourth performance in which Siân brought in the audience to sing, probably Elvis’ most romantic piece. ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’. This was followed by Yfory, a song in which a returning traveller looks forward to his longed-for return to Wales – ‘Tomorrow’, the ever popular wishful ‘May You Always Have a Song’ was followed by the rousing ‘O Gymru’ in which we sing about how wonderful it is to live in Wales. Well, you do have to pay to come in so it must be good (free via the back door via Gloucester and through Chepstow or Monmouth, though). The solo part was again sung by Siân to the delight of the huge audience.
Following the concert the choir was honoured to be met, at his own request, by the Lord Mayor of Bristol, Councillor Peter Main who thanked the choir for its’ amazing, professional performance and by the Lord Lieutenant of the City and County of Bristol, Mrs Mary Prior MBE, JP who expressed a wish to find out more about us, so took details of our web-site. Please keep in touch with us.
The evening was compèred with great humour by organiser John Bedford and the Choir is extremely grateful for his invitation to take part in this wonderful concert for the Senior Citizens of Bristol. We look forward to being of service to you and the Bristol Rotarians again in the future. It can safely be said, to quote Siân, ‘There was something for everyone and I think the audience thoroughly enjoyed it’. As did we!
Regrettably, because of the rush due to traffic jams on the M4/M5 I did not have the opportunity to organise the taking of photographs of us while performing. Never mind! But I’ve got some of you on camera anyway. Sorry to say, there was no ‘Afterglow’ but we had to get back for our Sunday roasts!
Lyn