Tuesday, July 11, 2017

AND SO WE SANG AT ‘’THE REDCLIFFE VILLAGE” ROTHWELL





To a choir from the country, an invitation of a trip to sing at the sea-side is always an enticement and so on an exemplary Winter morning on Monday, 10th July, thirty-four Choristers, with spirits soaring, made their way by bus or car to give their all to an eagerly awaiting audience at ‘The Village’, Rothwell at Redcliffe. Touted as “a really brilliant choir who has sung at the Sydney Opera House” the expectation of this audience must certainly have equated to the elation felt by the choir members as they made their way into the Village’s magnificent new performance venue.  

With audio ace, Greg having already prep’d the room with the appropriate amount of amplification, our Queen of the Keyboard, Margaret, comfortably seated at a sparkling new upright, Alexis poised, calm, her confidence contagious, the Choir took up their positions and for the next hour, gave a variety of performances which, from all accounts, did not disappoint.

 
From the power and pulse of the opening sacred songs, the beautiful A. L. Webber Love Changes Everything by the men’s ensemble, Nola’s fabulous rendition of Why Am I Always The Bridesmaid?, as popular this day as ever it might have been in Victorian Music Halls, to the My Fair Lady Ensemble, frocked in their finest with voices to match, the concert goers were captivated.

My Fair Lady  - Ensemble



Gail Webster
Eric von Nida 




















A short break then for audience to sip and sup but not so much as to diffuse the expectation of what was to follow as Gail and Eric lit up the stage area with their sensational Gilbert and Sullivan excerpt from Patience, So Go To Him, a perfect prelude to the Choir’s and Bob’s rousing selections from Trial By Jury.   

 
I Love a Piano
 
The ladies’ up-beat Irving Berlin evergreen I Love a Piano never fails to produce smiles and evident on some, surely tears of joy as the Choir came together for their emotive final bracket, The Gypsy Rover, the poignant Let There Be Peace and And So I Sing, a selection from the many beautiful songs which have awakened so many other audiences to the joys of singing.
To Entertainment Director, Jenny; to Bev, a one-time Laidley resident and a wonderful supporter and friend of the Choir; to all the kind folk of The Village, the Choir extends its sincere thanks for their kindness and warm hospitality which made us feel very special and completely satisfied following a truly scrumptious lunch.  However, a ‘trip to the sea-side’ is never complete without a trip to the sea-side so it was all aboard the bus and a quick jaunt to the picturesque Redcliffe Esplanade where people enjoyed a wander through the Bee Gee's Walk and a quiet place by the beach to reflect upon the events of a delightful day.
By: Sue Walker




 


 



 
A little frivolity with the new sound technician, Greg.
The Redcliffe Pier



Find a microphone and everyone is a Star

Sue Walker with The Bee Gees - They look very impressed

The Rocking Trio - Nola, Jo and Carolyn with the Bee Gees


Bob giving the Bee Gees a few Classical Pointers


 
Steve  - showing the Bee Gees a little Style
 
Kids will be Kids !
Is this St Margaret of Worms  - Keeping the blessings flowing.

















Tuesday, July 4, 2017

A DASHING DAY IT WAS AT THE ‘ESKOT’ RACES






There are times when, for the Esk Community Choir, the line between ‘’performances’ and ‘performance’ becomes a little blurred and so it was when a whole bunch of choir members frocked up in their finest for their day in the sun at “The Eskot Races”.


At a time following the joy of “My Fair Lady”, Eric’s email, subject… “a smashing, positively dashing Spectacle: the Eskot Opening Day!” …to picture a place under a "Marquee on the "Hill" overlooking the verdant splendour of our fair Somerset racetrack” …was altogether too much to resist for many Choir members.  And on a day when even the Winter sun put on its own performance to smile on a capacity race crowd, we, along with Eric’s delightful family and friends, thoroughly indulged ourselves in the spectacle. 
                                           




Sue Cox, radiant in red hatted plumes, managed after almost every race to keep the Bookmakers supporting the lifestyle to which they have become accustomed; Grace, giddy with optimism after a win in the first, managed discretion for the rest and kept her kitty on an even keel; any horse with a musical themed moniker sadly failed to “move (its) bloomin’ arse” but heart-glow generated by our luxurious proximity to  the thundering hooves of those majestic thoroughbreds outweighed any disappointments from the betting ring.


                        





To judge the fashion was an unenviable task with so many strutting their many elegant, many audacious outfits.  Eric, of course, was completely flamboyant in pink with top hat and tails; the always inventive Carolyn managed to adapt bra inserts to create a gorgeous fashion statement for her head but the prize for the most chic chick went to Marina and hubby Brian, resplendent in kilt and all the accompanying kit, won it for the men.




To our Eric, whose talents, we have come to learn, are not only restricted to his beautiful singing, goes our heart-felt thanks not just for his organizational skills and a lip-smacking lunch but for making this occasion so memorable for us all in so many ways.  The question of a theme for next year has been raised and if this writer may humbly suggest, being that it is the year of 40th anniversary celebrations, a costume from chosen past performances might be appropriate.  For Fashions-on-the Field, in my book, “Carlotta” could out-do a spotted tie any day of the week!

                                               
 





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