PICK and MIX

This society is well known for its choral singing so with an evening of Pick and Mix musical numbers, and supper promised it was no surprise that all tickets were sold out well in advance.  The audience was seated at tables and treated to a very tasty main course and then the entertainment began with a fabulously rousing "O Fortuna".  

The first half of the evening was of an especially high standard with more than a dozen items, for choral,  solos and smaller groups of singers.  They had clearly been painstakingly drilled by their chorus master and achieved a wonderfully balanced and disciplined sound.  It was such a treat to hear ends of phrases, diminuendos, and crescendos and expression so controlled but also so joyously sung.   It would be too easy to underestimate the hours and weeks of rehearsal it takes to achieve such a fabulous standard.

The programme for the evening was well chosen giving the audience an excellent variety and also giving many of the members of CODS an opportunity to shine.    Members of the audience will no doubt have had their own particular favourites.  "Memory" from the musical "Cats" which is usually sung by a female soloist had been arranged for seven voices and was enthusiastically received by the audience and was glorious.  The Simon and Garfunkel selection with "The Sound of Silence", "59th Street Bridge Song" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water" was yet another inspired choice.  These and so many more excellent musical choices were so much appreciated by the audience.  The singers were accompanied by a band comprising six musicians who played beautifully and it was especially pleasing to see,  were very much part of the team.  The numbers were introduced with amusing chat from the two Masters of Ceremony.

The audience was entertained with some glorious singing of an exceptional standard but if there is a criticism it was just a tad long, but how could you choose from this great programme what you could omit?

Where I have mentioned specific items those were my personal favourites, members of the audience will have had their own favourites which proves that with an eclectic selection there is something for everyone.

It is good that so many members of CODS were involved and the months of rehearsal for this will certainly prove to be an excellent foundation for the musical in April, "Carousel".

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.