The Leigh Orpheus Spring Concert. 1st March 2025 at the Salvation Army Temple
This was the Leigh Orpheus’s first concert of 2025, appropriately on the first day of Spring and St David’s Day, and it was good to have a full house.
The Leigh Orpheus’s first set started with Verdi’s ‘Speed Your Journey’, also known as the Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves. They then moved on to a modern piece ‘A Winter’s Tale’, made popular in 1982 by David Essex. Then, as an acknowledgement that it was St David’s Day, and the choir’s roots having been from the Welsh tradition, sung in Welsh, ‘Gwahoddiad’.
Next, a guitar solo by Dave Smith who introduced the piece by describing how he had come to write ‘The Lonely Sea and Sky’.
Then three pieces that were instantly recognised by the audience: ‘You Raise me Up’. ‘Yesterday’ and ‘Unchained Melody, the latter conducted by the choir’s Deputy Musical Director Dave Smith. A duet next, played four-handed on the piano by MD Jan Walker and Accompanist Kay Duell. Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (A little night music)
The choir’s final set of the first half comprised a selection of three pieces from the very popular stage musical ’Les Misérables’. Firstly ‘At the End of the Day’ sung by the full choir. Next, a brilliantly-performed solo piece by Ralph Faulkes, ‘Bring Him Home’ and finally the choir again singing ‘Do you Hear the People Sing’. The audience responded with generous applause. During the Interval the choir members and audience alike caught up with each other over refreshments provided by the choir’s Front of House and Hospitality team. The second half of the concert started with the Queen classic ‘Another One Bites the Dust’. This was the first public performance by the choir of this piece, made even livelier by the audience participating in the choruses. Choir and audience did well. The lights dimmed for the next piece, the Katrina and the Waves song ‘Love Shine a Light’. To great effect, for each chorus, every choir member raised a tea light.
Then it was time for another solo from Ralph Faulkes who sang a piece from the musical Miss Saigon. ‘Why God Why?’.
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Again, well-earned applause for Ralph from the audience and choir members. Two more choir pieces. The first, another ‘first time out’ number for the choir for this piece, ‘Anthem’ from the musical ‘Chess’. Then a Male Voice Choir Classic ‘An American Trilogy’ made famous by Elvis Presley in 1972. Dave Smith then returned for another guitar solo. Another piece he had written himself, ‘James Taylor State of Mind’. Finally, to finish this lovely evening, and to elicit some toe-tapping from the audience, the marathon ‘Back to the 60s Medley’. From the feedback received from the audience it had been another excellent, entertaining and well-performed concert. One audience member said: “Just to thank you for such a lovely evening; we enjoyed it so much!! The song selection was excellent and LOMVC never fail to give a great evening….. just love the harmonies and when it’s all at full throttle - fantastic!!! Oh and Ralph was so moving too. Loved it and thank you.”