Christmas with Operated Viva

What a lovely way to start the 2025 Christmas season than by attending "Christmas with Opera Viva," a concert that showcased a variety of seasonal favourite well known songs and featured pieces from opera, operetta, and piano solos which showcased the talent and versatility of both soloists and the ensemble.

The evening began with Holst’s “In the Bleak Midwinter”, arranged by Chilcott, beautifully played on the piano by Robert Chesters. This was followed by a spirited rendition of “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” by Meredith Wilson, sung by Steve Riodan, which set a festive tone for the night.The company then came together for “Christmas Children” from the film “Scrooge”, music written by Leslie Bricusse, capturing the warmth and nostalgia of the holiday season. This was succeeded by “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson, arranged by Mark Bremer, which brought a playful energy to the programme. Ros Purcell then entertained the audience with her rendition of “The Tipsy Waltz” from La Périchole by Offenbach, followed by a piano solo from Robert Chesters performing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, adding a touch of intimacy and reflection. The programme continued with the beautiful carol “The Little Road to Bethlehem” by Michael Head, sung with sincerity by Pat Maitland.  I believe this carol, is deserving of being performed more frequently. Marie Williams then contributed to the contemplative mood with her lovely performance of “No Room” by A. L. Skelton, and the contemplative mood continued with the duet “Evening Prayer” from Hansel and Gretel by Humperdinck, performed by Annette Reis Dunn and Pat Maitland.  Pam Ashcroft’s rendition of well-known and perennial favourite, “O Holy Night” by Adam, was particularly moving.To conclude the first half, the entire company joined together in a performance of “The Very Best Time of Year” by John Rutter, leaving the audience eagerly anticipating the second half of the concert.

The second half of the event opened with a company performance of "Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth," a duet arranged by J. Althouse and originally performed by the unusual and inspired pairing of Bing Crosby and David Bowie on the Bing Crosby Show in 1977. Following this, the audience enjoyed three pieces from Puccini’s La Bohème, an opera that poignantly depicts the tragic romance between Rodolfo and Mimi, a young seamstress he encounters on Christmas Eve. This sequence brought to life the passion, hardship, and bittersweet beauty of bohemian Paris. The highlights included “Si, mi chiamano Mimi” performed by Ros Purcell, “Quando Men vo” sung by Annette Reis Dunn and “Vecchia, zimarra senti” sung by Martin Cassell.The company then offered a rendition of the beloved carol “Silent Night” by Gruber, enveloping the hall in a serene and reflective atmosphere. Karen Hawkins followed with a performance of “White Christmas” by Irving Berlin, inviting the audience to join in and creating a warm, communal spirit. A light-hearted moment ensued with the men of the company presenting “The Carol Singers” by T.S. Bennett. This humorous interlude, performed by Steve Riodan, Peter McColgan, and Martin Cassell, delighted the audience and added a playful note to the proceedings.Pam Ashcroft then took the stage to sing “The Christmas Song” by Wells and Tormé, delivering a smooth and nostalgic rendition. The concert concluded with the entire company coming together for a lively medley of festive Christmas songs, ensuring the evening ended on a joyful and celebratory note.

Steve Riordan, as Master of Ceremonies, entertained the audience with humorous anecdotes which went down well.  Musical Director Alison Davies skilfully led and conducted the group numbers, while Robert Chesters accompanied both the group numbers and soloist on piano as well as performing two solo pieces excellently.

Despite the unavoidable absence of several company members due to seasonal illness, both the ensemble and soloists delivered commendable and enjoyable performances that embodied the spirit of Christmas and ensured there was a festive atmosphere making sure the audience was treated to an uplifting selection of music and song.

Ordinarily, it would be customary to acknowledge the company individually in a review of this nature. However, given that several members were unable to attend, and to avoid any inadvertent inclusions or omissions, I thought it was more appropriate on this occasion not to list the names of those involved whilst recognising the contributions of all participants.

Thank you for a lovely evening of Christmas entertainment and for your warm hospitality and my first mince pie of the season. If you are looking for a concert as an introduction to Opera with enjoyable performances and a friendly atmosphere, I recommend Opera Viva.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.