THIS concert celebrating 25 years of service to the society by president Mary Southall, was packed with glorious music from old Vienna, all accompanied by the talented Angela Savage on piano.
There were songs from Johann Strauss II operettas, and Lehar's Merry Widow, and a lovely arrangement of My Heart and I by Richard Tauber and Fred Tysh.
There were many highlights and I can only mention a few, but I must include Vivien Seville and Jonathan Darby's duet, backed by the chorus, for Goodnight Vienna, and the duet from Waltzes from Vienna, sung by Mary Cahill and Mary Sinclair, their voices blending beautifully.
Mary Cahill also tackled Highborn Lady to the tune of the Thunder and Lightning Polka which left me out of breath just listening, so it must have been exhausting to sing, and Judith Standing dueted with Jonathan for the lovely Dare I Believe My Heart? from Gypsy Baron.
Probably the best all-round section, unsurprisingly, was from Die Fledermaus, with Mary Sinclair dressed as Count Orlofsky for Chacun a son gout, Vivien's superb version of the Laughing Song and Judith's outstanding rendition of Czardas, and there surely could be no better way of ending such a musical evening than with the sublime Brother Mine.
Most of the programme was a delight, but I wasn't keen on the choir's Nun's Chorus (I missed the soloist), Brian Potter struggled to hit the high notes in his duet with Sharon Link, and I was very disappointed with Alan Savage's performance of Girls Were Made to Love and Kiss.
Otherwise, a terrific concert, relaxed and friendly. VJS
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