'EXTRAORDINARY CONCERT' AT LA ZENIA RAISES OVER 1300 EUROS

Entertainment

Contributor / 2012-05-14 14:23:03

The long-awaited first performance of the new 26-strong 'Orihuela Costa Male Voice Choir'

Nearly half an hour before the start of the concert, given on Sunday at La Zenia Church, the audience was packed in ... every seat was taken. Chairs were being brought in from all over the church buildings to cater for the queues of people eager to hear the rwo superb choirs taking part.

The children's choir, 'Cantemos!' - with ten new children amongst the 26 who took part - were magnificent. Singing in 3 part harmony, their beautiful sounds in such songs as Bright Eyes, Sound of Silence, Streets of London and many more brought the huge audience of 300 to their feet on several occasions.

Highlight of their performance was a first ever performance in Spain of the song 'Believe' by UK composer Lin Marsh, which left the audience spellbound with its clarity, harmony, and descants.

Then came the long-awaited first performance of the new 26-strong 'Orihuela Costa Male Voice Choir' - resplendent in their new uniforms of burgundy shirts with embroidered yellow logo - who fair took the roof off the church with their wonderful, rich and mature choral sounds. Amongst their programme were Morte Criste, Priests' Chorus from 'Magic Flute', Wanderin' Star, and Stout-Hearted Men from 'New Moon'.

The difference between their soft controlled singing and their full-blooded crescendos was mesmerising, and the audience made their feelings well-known with tumultuous applause after each piece. It was more impressive to learn that the choir was only nine weeks old ... and a bright future is guaranteed to this gallant band of men under the guidance of conductor Nigel Hopkins.

In between these choral delights, we heard solos by three members of Cantemos! 'Hushabye Mountain' sung by Holly Neeson, and 'Hello Young Lovers' by Jesse Walsh were enthusiastically received. Highlight of the whiole evening was the song 'I Dreamed A Dream' from Les Miserables sung by the amazing voice of Janelle Gaskell, a singer who Nigel Hopkins is grooming for a West End career.

The whole concert was brought to a close with both choirs joining forces to sing Nigel Hopkins' own arrangement of the song, 'Let There Be Peace On Earth'. This culminated in the entire audience jumping to its feet in a standing ovation which lasted for several minutes. The concert was in aid of the church building fund, which profited by over 1300 euros from the evening.

Pauline Carter