‘How do you know there is a lead at the door- They don’t
know when to come in and can’t find their key’ Just one of many gags delivered by
the cheery Yorkshire Lady who acted as MC
for an audience at the Theatre Royal
Waterford on Friday Cognoscenti among
you will of course recognise that the audience must have been singers of the
barbershop variety and indeed the 2013
Irish Association of Barbershop Singers Convention was held in the medieval port city this
weekend. If the world of choral singing is a lake, barbershop singers
constitute a significant rockpool and 600 or so of the Irish members with guests from overseas
gathered to indulge in their vocal passion. It was quite an heady blend of
great good humour, glorious four part harmony and show biz pzazz , part X
Factor and part Phoenix Nights. No programme was available, so I can’t credit
any individuals or name the event but Friday night’s competition was won by the
Bray Ladies Chorus, Serendipity for their rendition of Michael Jackson’s
Thriller. The Ladies must have been in make up for hours to get the striking impasto effects in their monster stage make up Stephen from the Cambridge explained to me the
distinction between a choir and a chorus.
Special Guests The Gateway Chorus
from San Francisco and The Old School Quartet were superb and threatened to list
the roof of the Victorian auditorium . The party continued after the show at
Tower Hotel where the Festival Club was
delightfully named Afterglow where the group gathered the chat and warble I into
the small hours.
Venue Notes: I arrived at the Theatre Royal a little late to
find one of the front of house staff standing in the doorway as if to deter
anyone casually strolling in off the street. I
wondered for a moment if it was a private event but on enquiring about ticket
availability , the young man gestured towards the Box Office . I can’t say that
I was impressed by the welcoming attitude of the Theatre Royal Team on this or
recent visits.
The Threepenny Opera
by with libretto by Brecht and music by
Weill is most famous for the standard,
Mac the Knife . A rare chance to see the emblematic 1920’s work was presented
by the Gate Theatre production for the
Dublin Theatre Festival. I was lucky to secure a cancellation on Saturday
night. The press reviews have been unanimously positive about the production
and expectations were high. I did enjoy it but found almost two hours for a first half without an interval a little arduous. The forces
assembled were impressive almost thirty players between cast and musicians. Among them an eight piece ensemble lead by Cathal
Synnott supported the 20 or so actor/singers. I loved the real harmonium and
among the pit players placed on stage, Karl Ronan on trombone excelled as the predominant
voice in the pit. Not for the first time, I note the role the Artane Boys Band has played in producing superb professional brass players. It was good to hear Brendan Doyle from Waterford in the ensemble.
Venue Notes. The Gate especially when packed is not the most
comfortable theatre especially if you come in last and your seat is at the end
of the row. Get in early and don't count on being able to get out easily. I am always impressed by the authoritative presence of the Front of
House Manager
Sunday Palestrina Choir Director Blanaid Murphy Organist Gerald
Gillen. 11.00 Sung Mass Pro Cathedral
As ever , the best music with superb musicians was to be
heard for nothing, no ticket required and open to all in the capital ecclesiastical spaces. The
Palestrina Choir sang a varied programme of old and new in a programme including Herbert Howells, Mozart and a new
work by Scottish composer James McMillan, with responses by Colin Mawby and plainchant all executed with skill and style. The ceremony opened with the choir
processing up while singing the opening hymn, All Creatures of our God and
King, the words provided to encourage congregational participation . At the
close , the choir lined up at the altar and their efforts were acknowledged and
the new senior positions were announced.
The proceedings closed with a splendid organ voluntary by Widor by Gerard Gillen on the
Pro Cathedral Organ. Excellent!
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