The Lighter Side of Opera Viva

The Lighter Side of Opera Viva a concert presented by Opera Viva at St. Anthony of Padua Church Hall, Mossley Hill, Liverpool on Sunday 5th July 2026.

Production Team… people have this innate idea that ‘staging a concert’ is an easy option, WRONG! From personal experience, pulling a concert or revue together takes a great deal of time, effort, planning, knowledge and expertise! ‘Fact’… Opera Viva have over the years been blessed with many such talented people, people that are just willing and able to carry out these requirements.  Leading us on this ‘adventure’ were Alison Davies (Musical Director), Robert Chesters (Accompanying Pianist) and Steve Riorden (Master of Ceremonies). Alison provided some excellent musical direction and with the magical talents of Robert on piano, things just flowed with effortless ease! Once again, Steve added depth to this concert by talking 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).  Thanks to all concerned in bringing this concert to stage... ‘well done’ great job!

The Company... included: Pam Ashcroft, Martin Cassell, Philomena Golding, Carla Hay, Karen Hawkins, Peter McColgan, Pat Maitland, Steve Riordan, Bernadette O’Keefe, Annette Reis Dunne,
Rhia Taylor, Valerie Watts & Marie Williams

The Programme... was a two-part concert ...
Part I
i) Pam Ashcroft in company with the chorus provided us with the ‘Introduction and Vilia’ from The Merry Widow by Franz Lehar
ii) Maria Williams then sang ‘Why Did You Kiss My Heart Awake’ from Friederika again by Lehar.  
iii) Martin Cassell then brought the first ‘step away from opera’ by performing the extremely humorous ‘The Cobblers Song’ from Chu Chi Chow by Frederic Norton
iv) Annette Reis Dunne thrilled us with ‘Someday My Heart Will Awake’ from King’s Rhapsody by Ivor Novello
v) Peter McColgan provided us with a second piece by Novello ... ‘And Her Mother Came Too’.
vi) Novello also wrote the next piece ... ‘Love Is My Reason’ ... sung perfectly by Carla Hay.
vii) Martin Cassell, Peter McClogan and Steve Riordan chose a classic from Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado ... ‘I Am So Proud’
viii) Valerie Watts brought a smile to all our faces with her rendition of ‘I Want to Sing in Opera’ by David, Arthurs and Kern (PS... loved the ‘Horned Viking Helmet’)
ix)  Closing Act One – we had The Company singing Aleksandra Borodin’s ‘Polovtsian Dances’ from Prince Igor

Part 2
i) Annette Reis Dunne, Karen Hawkins, Pat Maitland, Carla Hay and Maria Williams opened Part 2 of the concert with ‘On My Lips Every Kiss is Like Wine’, from Giuditta by Franz Lehar
ii) Bernadette O’Keefe gave us a beautiful rendition of ‘Dream O’ Day Jill from ‘Tom Jones’ by Edward German’ Day Jill
iii) Pat Maitland then provided us with her rendition of ‘Don’t Be Cross’ from Der Obersteiger by Carl Zeller
iv) Steve Riorden’s rendition of ‘The King of the Boeotians’ ... from the comic opera Orpheus in the Underworld by Offenbach was delivered with humour and a hint of pathos... loved it!
v) Pam Ashcroft treated us to a rendition of one of the most popular songs from Kismet... ‘And This is My Beloved’, music and lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest
vi) Karen Hawkins almost stole the show with her rendition of Andrew Lloyd Webbers ‘Wishing You Were Here Again’ from the fabulous Phantom of the Opera.  Be proud Karen...
vii) Finally.... a wonderful medley from one, if not my favourite of musicals... Les Misérables written by Claude-Michel Schonberg. Performed by the entire Company was a fitting end to a wonderful concert appreciated by everyone in attendance!

As most will know, I’m never one to sit on the fence and this is where I would normally start selecting ‘favourites’ MY favourites, BUT I feel that inappropriate for this concert WHY... this was ‘Opera Viva’ navigating unchartered waters... some would say ‘stepping out of their comfort zone’ by not only including choices from operetta’s, light opera’s but from musical theatre and much further afield… did it work, from a personal point of view... without doubt and from the reaction/applause throughout and at the end, I felt the audience enjoyed it as well. This concert was titled “The Lighter Side of Opera Viva’ ... was billed as “An Afternoon of Witty, Elegant and Effervescent Music Making” ... we got exactly what was promised on the tin — clearly appreciated by everyone present.
In all walks of life, when something ‘stops working’ as well as it once did, you have to take stock and consider what might help things flourish again. I discussed with some of your members at your March concert, exploring other genres of music that could be adapted into an operatic style which could perhaps help and provide a way forward. After attending your latest production — and hearing music from musical theatre (Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera) and musical comedy (Chu Chin Chow) — I can genuinely see the potential. These pieces generated smiles, real enthusiasm, laughter and applause from everyone present.

I’ve used this quote from the movie ‘Pretty Lady’ before, and it feels appropriate again...  ‘people’s reaction to opera the first time they see it are very dramatic; they either love it or they hate it. If they love it, they will always love it, if they don’t, they may learn to appreciate it, but it will never become part of their soul.”   ‘The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’ ... I want to encourage your members to take that step... for me this was a ‘light at the end of a tunnel’ and if I can help at all you know where I am ...

In their programme... Opera Viva enclosed a single yet ‘special sheet’ advising us of the ‘passing’ of a dear friend and colleague Nikki Burns who had passed only weeks earlier... the words on the sheet said everything and Opera Viva had dedicated this concert to her.  Can I on behalf of myself and all at NODA pay our respects to Nikki, her family and to the society for their loss.  RIP Nikki

Thank you so much for the invite, I really did enjoy everything that was sung and played that afternoon, keep going folks, as suggested previously, if I can help… you know where to find me!

Stay Safe, Keep well ....
“Stronger Together”
Jim Briscoe,
NODA NW
District 6 Rep

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