AND SO WE SANG AT ‘’THE REDCLIFFE VILLAGE” ROTHWELL

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

AND SO WE SANG AT ‘’THE REDCLIFFE VILLAGE” ROTHWELL

To a choir from the country, an invitation of a trip to sing at the sea-side is always an enticement and so on an exemplary Winter morning on Monday, 10^th July, thirty-four Choristers, with spirits soaring, made their way by bus or car to give their all to an eagerly awaiting audience at ‘The Village’, Rothwell at Redcliffe. Touted as “a really brilliant choir who has sung at the Sydney Opera House” the expectation of this audience must certainly have equated to the elation felt by the choir members as they made their way into the Village’s magnificent new performance venue.

With audio ace, Greg having already prep’d the room with the appropriate amount of amplification, our Queen of the Keyboard, Margaret, comfortably seated at a sparkling new upright, Alexis poised, calm, her confidence contagious, the Choir took up their positions and for the next hour, gave a variety of performances which, from all accounts, did not disappoint.

From the power and pulse of the opening sacred songs, the beautiful A. L. Webber Love Changes Everything by the men’s ensemble, Nola’s fabulous rendition of Why Am I Always The Bridesmaid?, as popular this day as ever it might have been in Victorian Music Halls, to the My Fair Lady Ensemble, frocked in their finest with voices to match, the concert goers were captivated.

My Fair Lady - Ensemble

Gail Webster

Eric von Nida

A short break then for audience to sip and sup but not so much as to diffuse the expectation of what was to follow as Gail and Eric lit up the stage area with their sensational Gilbert and Sullivan excerpt from Patience, So Go To Him, a perfect prelude to the Choir’s and Bob’s rousing selections from Trial By Jury.

I Love a Piano

The ladies’ up-beat Irving Berlin evergreen I Love a Piano never fails to produce smiles and evident on some, surely tears of joy as the Choir came together for their emotive final bracket, The Gypsy Rover, the poignant Let There Be Peace and And So I Sing, a selection from the many beautiful songs which have awakened so many other audiences to the joys of singing.

To Entertainment Director, Jenny; to Bev, a one-time Laidley resident and a wonderful supporter and friend of the Choir; to all the kind folk of The Village, the Choir extends its sincere thanks for their kindness and warm hospitality which made us feel very special and completely satisfied following a truly scrumptious lunch. However, a ‘trip to the sea-side’ is never complete without a trip to the sea-side so it was all aboard the bus and a quick jaunt to the picturesque Redcliffe Esplanade where people enjoyed a wander through the Bee Gee's Walk and a quiet place by the beach to reflect upon the events of a delightful day.

By: Sue Walker