With Clive Phillips as its new Musical Director together with recently appointed accompanist David Last and Organist John M. Davies, the choir presented its Annual Concert at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea last Saturday. Guest artistes were Claire Lousie Hammacott (Soprano), Iwan Wyn Parry (Bass) and Nerys and Llinos Richards on Cello and Piano. Any worries that the capacity audience had about the choir’s performance under the new team was soon dispelled. Matters musical could not be faulted and the flow of superb music was endless.
The choir opened the concert with Protheroe’s Laudamus which set the standard for the remainder of the choir’s splendid performance. The audience was treated to an exciting and varied programme consisting of many favourites as well as new pieces. Iwan Wyn Parry joined the choir in the Chorus of Hebrew Slaves (Verdi) to sing the Finale Act 3 Nabucco, which brought the audience to its feet in spontaneous appreciation.
Iwan Wyn is no stranger to the concert stage and on Saturday he gave his usual powerful performance illustrating why he has been so successful at eisteddfodau. His imposing stage presence always makes him a firm favourite with audiences and he did not disappoint Saturday’s audience.
Claire’s performance was polished as one would expect of a singer who has developed a career spanning all walks of musical life from opera to musical theatre and from concert work to TV and radio recordings. She has appeared on the West End stage and toured extensively with musical production. A native of Swansea and once again living locally, Claire has her feet firmly on Welsh ground.
The Richard' sisters from Newport, Pembrokeshire found time from their taxing performance schedule to grace the stage at Swansea. Nerys and Llinos have a hugely exciting talent and showed their mastery of the piano and cello by moving effortlessly between the instruments interspersed with stirring piano and cello duets.
The choir closed the evening with Daniel Protheroe’s Nidaros a male choral item which, with its wide ranging musical demands, showed why the choir has been so successful in competition.
The audience left with an appetite for more and secure in the knowledge that under Clive Phillips and his team the choir is in safe hands.
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