12:30pm Sunday 9th May 2010
Basingstoke Male Voice Choir
St George’s Day Concert
The Anvil
WHAT a St George’s Day celebration – this soul-lifting and rousing concert at The Anvil was full of nostalgia, pride and patriotism.
The entertainment was provided by the Basing-stoke Male Voice Choir (BMVC), The Army Medical Services’ Band and the Boy’s Choir of St Mary’s School, Old Basing.
Compered by local DJ Pete Tuck, the first half of the programme had a military edge, featuring numbers like Gounod’s Soldiers’ Chorus, the theme tune to the film Where Eagles Dare, Hymn To The Fallen from Saving Private Ryan and a medley of Second World War songs.
The BMVC gave a confident performance under their new music director Peter Allen, who has recently picked up the baton from Dai Ogborn.
Accompanied variously by organist Paul Wright and The Army Medical Services’ Band, the singers demonstrated their versatility.
While their well-balanced harmonisation was more pronounced during quieter pieces, the power of the massed voices was evident when accompanied by the band.
The second half had a different flavour, featuring popular songs including a James Bond-theme medley, Henry Wood’s Fantasia on British Sea Songs, regimental marches and lively audience participation singing Jerusalem and Elgar’s Land of Hope and Glory. In all, we were treated to a real eclectic mix of music.
It is a pity that The Army Medical Services’ Band only gives around half-a-dozen public performances each year. Conducted by Robert Ghigi, they are a well-polished band, in all senses, and led us through those emotions of pride and patriotism.
The young stars of the show were the St Mary’s Junior School Boys’ Choir. From the rhythm of the Zulu folk song Siyahamba, the beat of Bill Hailey’s Rock Around The Clock to the racy, animated Basin Street Blues, the boys sang with unbounded enthusiasm.
The quality of their singing was exemplified by seven-year-old Charlie King, who sang the solo in Just A Single Voice. Conductor Marilyn Wright, clearly a talented and dedicated music teacher, must be congratulated on her achievement of creating such a wonderfully entertaining boy’s choir.
A truly memorable evening and the audience departed feeling joyful and uplifted.
–Jon Richards
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