Penally Concert, Friday 2nd October 2010
The Haverfordwest Ladies Choir performed to a friendly and appreciative audience at Penally Community Hall on Friday 2nd October, under conductor Nancy Mann and with Gerald Nicholas as accompanist.
They began with Don Besig's 'Gonna rise up singin' and several other items from their long-standing repertoire, and continued with other favourites from their cache of American spirituals and traditional songs, including Aaron Copland's 'Ching-a-ring chaw'. As the concert headed towards its finale, they delivered a batch of recent American pieces, like the Phil Spector song, 'Chapel of love' and the song popularised by Shirley Bassey, Cy Coleman's 'Big spender'.
Much of the programme was delivered by mezzo-soprano Marian Graceson and soprano Abigail Graceson, who presented a selection of solos and duets. These ranged from some relatively little-known but charming pieces by composers like Samuel Barber (from his opera Vanessa) and the American modernist Charles Ives. In their later appearances, Marian and Abigail delivered songs from shows by Cole Porter and Jerome Kern.
In the final item the Ladies Choir was joined by Marian's own Penally Carol Choir in Besig's 'As long as I have music'.
After the performance, the Penally members entertained the choir and their supporters to refreshments.
Robert Nisbet
