For many musicians it has been quite some time since they performed to a live audience. At last, on Saturday, March 9 Ryesingers were able to show again just how good they are. After months of Covid worries, they came together once more to delight their loyal friends in the audience.
The first half offered excerpts from Gilbert and Sullivan’s Mikado, sung by Richard Moore who also linked the various parts of the musical. The soloists were superb, singing and acting the roles given, supported by the wonderful voices of the choir. It has to be mentioned that Ko-Ko managed to put into his “little list” some personal points like:”officials who hold parties while the whole world isolates”, “conspiracy theorists – they never would be missed” and “dictators who invade Ukraine with mass artillery”, and more local and global issues which fitted nicely into the music.
The second half was beautifully performed by individuals and the choir and the audience was also invited to participate. The first song to join with the choir was “Sing Cuckoo Now Sing Cuckoo” which was a round in four parts, excellent sound. There were others from the choir – “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”, songs from “the Wizard of Oz”, another for everyone in the room – “this old man… played nick nack of my drum”, very enjoyable. Most fun for the audience was the instruction to become the bass for “We Will Rock You” tap/tap (feet) clap, tap/tap/clap…Everybody entered into the spirit of the evening.
Weeks of hard work, the tenacity of the choir, together with the talented but tough taskmaster, musical director Lesley Brownbill, brought about a brilliant start for Ryesingers. Watch out for the next offering which will be on Saturday, October 8 at St Mary’s Church. It is a special concert to celebrate the choir’s 50th anniversary, actually fifty-plus one due to Covid. The choir will be made up of current and former members and the music will include the Faure Requiem together with favourite items chosen from those performed over the years. If anyone is interested in joining on a regular basis do phone Lesley on 01797 222 637.
Image Credits: Heidi Foster .