THE ‘TERRIFIC TENORS’ WERE SIMPLY TERRIFIC IN TOOGOOLAWAH!

The Terrific Tenors

“What in the name of Christopher Columbus could she be thinking?!” was a paradigm of the parlance in thought bubbles when, undaunted, Esk Community Choir’s Musical Director, Alexis FitzGerald OAM, declared she was intending to put together an all-male concert and call it ‘The Terrific Tenors’.

Undeterred, the blueprint was formed, music distributed and following the Touring Choir’s return from overseas, rehearsals began in earnest. There were moments of exasperation when non-retention of lyrics was rife, capitulation when musical lines went walkabout, others of hilarity when choreography went a little cockeyed. However hard-won, Alexis’s confidence prevailed and with cooperation, pounds of patience and belief, Alexis and her choir boys who have been supporting the ladies of the choir at concerts for more than 40 years, successfully produced a showcase of their amazing musical talents at Toogoolawah’s Alexandra Hall on that Sunday afternoon in September.

Prior to performance time in a moment of solemnity and in dedication, Alexis spoke of Gail Webster, a treasured member of the Choir whose love of music and of the choir throbbed through her veins; whose courage throughout her illness was an inspiration to everyone but who sadly passed away recently.

At 2.30pm in front of a capacity audience who, in support of this event, had braved the dust storms, smoke and high winds whipping up from the west, it was time to put on a show! With Alexis at the piano and a talented ensemble of Sunshine Coast instrumentalists on strings to augment the musical sounds, the event came to life with a mixed-bag of rousing excerpts from Sigmund Romberg’s The Student Prince culminating in a stirring rendition by Denis, Bob and the Ensemble of I’ll Walk With God. It was obvious by this time that concert goers knew they were in for a very special treat.

The Student Prince

An interlude during which some wonderful raffle prizes were drawn and won allowed time for a quick costume change. On cue, the men, top-hatted and canes in hand, strutted onto the stage to sashay their way through Irving Berlin’s Let Yourself Go. Though Fred Astaire can lie in repose still comfortable in the knowledge that his dance steps are safe, the Choir’s talented choreographer, Helene Hawes did manage small miracles with her gaggle of guys, a majority of whom found themselves in possession of two left feet! The lyrics of I Got Plenty of Nuttin’ belied the considerable talents of tenor Denis Hawes while Lloyd King in the guise of Bond…James Bond…managed to steal away his ‘Bond girl’, Carolyn during the enthusiastic singing of You Only Live Twice.

Let Yourself Go

However, whilst Mr Astaire may still be smiling, it was Noel Coward who may have been rolling around ready to rethink his strategies when Eric von Nida brought his Nina, a comic song about ‘a fairly disagreeable lady’ to life and to another level. In a stunning performance, complex both lyrically and rhythmically, Eric brought the audience to their feet and left them calling for ‘encore!’.

The very animated Eric von Nida _ Nina

‘We want Pickwick…We want Pickwick!’ came the cries followed by questions from a riotous bunch of unruly women in the audience. ‘Pickwick’, aka Lloyd King did answer the call with his misguided political manifesto and a delightful performance of If I Ruled the World. With the ensemble still on stage, Brian Crichton followed with his passionate solo lead in the beautifully biblical Exodus Song.

You'll Never Walk Alone - Denis and Roger

A short break in the proceedings with the drawing of one of the big raffles allowed for another frenzied costume change. However, not even the odd wardrobe malfunction could detract from Denis, Roger and the Ensemble’s ‘moving tribute to the brotherhood of man’ from Carousel, You’ll Never Walk Alone and with his shirt buttons unashamedly still askew, Alan zealously led the men into a powerful rendition of Soldiers Chorus.

Bob Hardy _ O Star of Eve

In a climactic finale, Bob Hardy gave a truly sensitive portrayal of one of the most beloved of all operatic arias from Wagner’s Tannhauser, O Star of Eve and as Alexis played like moonlight on water the last strains of the Wagner’s accompaniment, Choir ladies quietly made their way to the stage to join with the men for the collaboration of voice and instruments in a moving performance of Pilgrims’ Chorus.

The Esk Community Choir is grateful that there are people whose generosity is given so freely in support of many Choir events. Damien FitzGerald from Toogoolawah’s Boutique Meats, Tony Groom, Alcheringa Holiday House Binna Burra, the Editors of The Somerset Newspaper; from the Somerset Council, Mayor Graeme Lehman, Sean Choat and from the Community, that wonderful bunch of Choir supporters whose faces are always a glowing presence amongst audiences.

Roland at the controls

The Esk Community Choir is also grateful to Roland Cox for stepping into the breach at the audio controls and for his commitment to perfecting its intricacies; to Kathleen for learning the complexities of the lighting system in 2 hours and for the many other volunteers from within the choir whose tireless efforts allow these events to run so seamlessly. We are grateful for a consummate accompanist in Margaret Philp whose musical talents are often overshadowed by the singers for whom she plays and a Choir Director in Alexis who dreams up at least five impossible things before breakfast and then makes them happen; who through music brings people together with that common thread and who needs to be thanked formally for showing us why we matter. Alexis is the beating heart of her choir, the members of which are all the richer for having been invited into her world.

Love is in the Air brought the joy of singing to the entire gathering as the Choir ushered concert goers from their seats to partake of a sumptuous afternoon tea.