Friday 07 December 2018
Bridgend Male Choir’s Friendship Concert held on Friday, 7th December in aid of church funds at St. Mary’s R. C. Church, Bridgend, was a joyful occasion...…….
Despite the inclement weather, the venue was packed with an enthusiastic audience who were well rewarded with a varied and polished programme of music under the direction of the choir’s talented music team of Ryan Wood (Musical Director), accompanist Stephanie Bailey (piano) and organist Scott Williams. A real treat was provided from beginning to end, with songs and hymns both familiar and new to the choir repertoire. A heartfelt Myfanwy, and audience favourites Cwm Rhondda and Calon Lân, amongst others, brought expressions of pleasure from the audience, whilst Coventry Carol and The Humming Chorus conveyed a positively haunting medieval feel.
A chance for the audience to sing along to three well-known carols also added to the enjoyment of the evening. In contrast, everyone was transported to the West End with breathtaking performances of songs by guest soloist Craig Yates of ‘Only Men Aloud’ from the shows Les Miserables and Chicago. Craig also delivered both an operatic piece and the haunting carol, O Holy Night, with sincerity and passion.
Organist Scott Williams delighted all with his accomplished rendition of seasonal pieces, the famous Pastoral Symphony from The Messiah by Handel and the traditional Christmas carol by Bach, In Dulci Jubilo.
Dr. Peter Morgan’s heart-warming reading of an extract from Dylan Thomas’s A Child’s Christmas in Wales, which is described as a modern welsh classic and belongs as such to the tradition of Christmas and the Christmas carol ,the wreath on the door and the lighted tree in the window, brought the story to life and allowed the audience’s imagination to share in the magical moment of the festive season where family represented the true meaning of Christmas.
Under the direction of their Musical Director, Rachel Azzopardi , the passionate and enthusiastic vocals of the ‘stars’ of the evening, St. Mary’s R.C. School Choir, brought a Christmas smile to the faces of not only the mums, dads and grandparents, but to everyone in the church. The first half of the concert ended with an emotional and solid rendition by Bridgend Male Choir of The Impossible Dream (from The Man of La Mancha), while the evening finished with everyone joining together to sing hark the Herald Angels Sing, a lovely note on which to send the audience home.
Mike Johnson Media Officer BMC
