The Magic of Winter

What a very enjoyable evening I have just spent in the company of the Great Horton Singers. ‘ The Magic of Winter’ was a lovely Winter/Christmas concert full of traditional carols, some almost unknown, very old carols, favourite popular Christmas songs and various readings of poems and passages as diverse as Pam Ayres and Mike Harding’s ‘Christmas Eve 1914’.   This was read so dramatically and ending with Silent Night, sung so beautifully by the choir that one could have heard a pin drop in the audience.  There were a few ‘not so dry eyes’ as well.

The whole evening was well balanced both in content and the quality of the singing.  It was lovely to hear all the harmonies being confidently and well sung and also all the words – the diction was exceptional.  There have been a few additions to the chorus who have helped dramatically to bring the harmonies together in a completely  natural way and made the singing seem rather more easy for the previous stalwarts.  The Musical Director had done an excellent job in preparing them for this concert, the choir responded and the resulting enjoyment of the audience was very apparent with the prolonged applause.  The accompaniment was also excellent (Rosie & Phil Walsh), almost unnoticeable at times.

Rosie Walsh also very capably entertained us with some flute solos, an old favourite ‘Narcissus’, ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ from Les Miserables and two well known Christmas favourites.  The whole evening was held together by the very capable John Mason.   I think I have said this before, but goodness knows how many hours he spends researching all the backgrounds to the songs, the composers, authors etc – and delivers it in such an interesting way that all the facts are never boring.

The evening was completed with a Festive Quiz presented by Richard Bentley which added to the enjoyment of all concerned.

Thank you Great Horton and Happy Christmas.

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