Summer Sparkle - Concert

Summer Sparkle:  a concert performed by members of Opera Viva at St Mary’s College, Everest Road, Crosby on Friday, 14th July, 2023 

Honestly, I couldn’t wait for this concert to come round… as I’ve always said, my knowledge of Opera is limited but I really was looking forward to this concert… and I was not to be disappointed! Opera Viva had gathered together a great cast, made up of members and three guests, who honestly ‘blew my mind’!  Firstly, we had Simona Furdul who I’d heard sing before when she took on the female lead, ‘Adina’, in Opera Viva’s production of ‘The Elixir of Love’ in November 2021…she gave us an outstanding performance that night and again tonight… what an amazing voice!  The second guest, was a young man, who is currently studying at The Royal College of Music… David Fraser, another amazingly talented singer who is just starting out on what could be a glittering career!  Finally, we had the ever so talented Cecelia Zhang, a mezzo-soprano, born in China, studied at the University of Auckland, New Zealand where she graduated with a first Class Honours in Music and a Conjoint Bachelor of Commerce and Music and became an inaugural student for the Te Pae Kōkako (TANZOS), a programme, for exceptionally promising young opera singers. Cecelia then received multiple offers from leading conservatories in the UK and continued her studies at The Royal Academy of Music in London.

The concert was in two acts…….
Act 1    “The Drinking Song” from ‘La Traviata’ by Verdi sung by Cecilia Zhang, David Palmer and Chorus…
              what a great way to open the concert!
             “Sempre Libra” from ‘La Traviata’ ….sung with great aplomb by Cecelia Zhang.
             “Sweetly the Birds” from ‘Cavalleria Rusticana’ by Mascagni sung by the Chorus.
             A selection from Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess” –
             ’You is My Woman’ sung by Annette Reis-Dunne and David Palmer
             ‘Summertime’ sung by Marie Williams
             ‘I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin’ sung with humour and conviction buy Steve Riordan
             “Un Bel Di” – ‘One Fine Day’ from ‘Madame Butterfly’ by Puccini sung by Cecilia Zhang
             “The Humming Chorus” from ‘Madame Butterfly’ … performed ever so well by the Chorus
             ‘Ebben.... Ne Andro Catalani’ from “La Wally” from sung to perfection by Simona Furdui.
             “II Lacerato Spirito” aria from ‘Simon Boccanegra’ by Verdi sung ever so well by David Fraser 
             “Don’t be Cross” from ‘Der Obersteiger’ by Carl Zeller… sung by Pat Maitland
             “The Villagers Chorus” from William Tell” by Rossini sung ever so well by the Chorus
             “Glitter and Be Gay” a beautiful aria from ‘Candide’ by Bernstein sung by Cecilia Zhang

Act 2   “The Toreador Song” from ‘Carman’ by Bizet sung by David Palmer and the Chorus
            “The Habanera” another aria from ‘Carman’ sung by Marie Williams and the Chorus
            “Glamorous Nights” a musical written by Ivor Novello… sung impressively by Pam Ashcroft
            “Bird Song at Eventide” written by Eric Coates and sung by Gretta Southern
            “Ave Maria” from ‘Othello’ written by Verdi sung exceptionally well by Simona Furtdui
            “Silent Worship” from ‘Ptolemy’ by Somervell and Handel…. sung really well by Peter McColgan
            “Vilja” from the Merry Widow by Lehar sung by Bernadette O’Keefe and the Chorus
            “A Hippopotamus’s Love Song”… “Mud Mud” by Flanders and Swann … more humour, from Steve Riordan…well done sir!
            “Io son I’umile ancella” from the opera ‘Adrienne Lecouvreur’ by Cilea sung by Annette Reis-Dunne
            “Largo al Factotum” from the ‘Barber of Saville’ by Rossini sung and acted with aplomb by David Palmer
            “Song to the Moon” from the opera ‘Rusalka’ by Dvorak… sung well by Pam Ashcroft
            “Va, penseiro” from the opera ‘Nabucco’ by Verdi … sung with passion by the CHORUS, a fitting climax!

Production Team…  people have this innate idea that ‘staging a concert’ is an easy option, WRONG, from personal experience, putting a concert or revue together takes a great deal of planning, knowledge and expertise!  
‘Fact’… Opera Viva are blessed with many talented people who are just willing and able to carry out these requirements…so, its congratulations, yet again, to incredible Melvin Tay (Musical Director) and Robert Chesters (Accompanist) who really can make that piano talk!  I found it really useful, yet again, when various people took on the role as ‘The Narrator’, guiding us through the ‘where’ (these pieces came from), ‘what’ (the productions were all about) and ‘how’ (these pieces actually fit into the context of that production).  Thank you so much to all concerned and who helped in any way, shape or form to bring the concert to stage!

Favourites… as most will know, I’m never one to ‘sit on the fence’… so if I may, can I select my top four performances /songs… (I’m not going to include those songs sung by the guests … hope that’s OK…. by the way they were fabulous each and all….)
1. Loved, loved, loved both Steve Riordan’s pieces… “I got plenty O’ Nuttin” from Porgy and Bess and “Mud, Mud’… ‘A Hippopotamus’s Love Song’ by Flanders and Swann.  Sung to perfection, the humour throughout was appreciated by everyone present…
    congrats Steve, be ever so proud, great job!
2. Pam Ashcroft provided us with a superb rendition of “Glamorous Nights” a musical written by Ivor Novello be ever so proud Pam… faultless!
3. David Palmer did a great job with “Largo al Factotum” from the ‘Barber of Saville’… exceptionally well sung and acted, thank you David impressive!
4. Last and certainly not least was the finale of the show…  sung impressively by the entire Chorus …. “Va, penseiro” from the opera ‘Nabucco’ by Verdi…sung with passion and great composure… as previously stated… ‘fitting climax’… be ever so proud!

Thank you once again Opera Viva, for coming up with a diverse programme which was both absorbing and entertaining! Special thanks to Viv Sharp for looking after my wife and I throughout the night… I’m still no expert, but already looking forward to my next chance to see you guys perform.

Stay safe and keep well
“Stronger Together”

Jim Briscoe
NODA North West
District 6 Rep

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