Joseph in the Spring - March 19, 2010

Once again, on March 19, the Town Hall saw an almost capacity audience for the Spring concert of Wyre Forest Young Voices and Primary Chords. We were treated to some first-class performances, including a soprano solo, There’s a fine, fine line (Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx) by Natalie Evans and a French horn solo, the Romanze from Mozart’s concerto no. 3 in E flat, by Rachel Stone, for both of whom these were their first solo performances. The Young Voices began the proceedings with Les Raftsmen (traditional Quebecois, arr. Mark Sirett), Ose Shalom (John Leavitt) and Dry Bones (trad. Spiritual arr. Mark Hayes). The Young Voices Chorale – the senior and more experienced members of the group – contributed Geoff Weaver’s arrangement of Somewhere over the Rainbow (Harold Arlen) and the ever-popular Chatanooga Choo Choo (Harry Warren).

The 24 members of the youngest group in the KCS family, Primary Chords, sang two groups of songs in the first half of the concert. In the first group we heard two songs relating to Spring – Silver the River (Paulus and Browne) and Uno ballada amarilla (Bob Chilcott), followed by two songs from My Fair Lady – The Rain in Spain and I could have danced all night. In the second group any lingering inhibitions vanished as they rendered The Ugly Duckling and The King’s new Clothes, made famous by Danny Kaye in the Disney film, Hans Christian Andersen. Once again, we saw in the expertise, the range of expression and the confidence of this young group of singers ample evidence of the high quality of the training they receive from Carol Hill and Nicci Lane.

The second half of the concert consisted of a concert performance of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. For this the Young Voices were joined by a five-piece band – Carolyn Hiscock and Chris Gumbley (woodwind), Rob Willis (bass), David Howles (percussion) and Mike Elden (keyboard) – which contributed in no small measure to the kaleidoscope of rhythm and sound colour of this extremely varied work. The soloists were Nicole Stone (Joseph), Faith Newrick (Narrator), Christina Lloyd Hall (Reuben), Lydia Hiles (the Butler), Lizzie Field (the Baker) and, back from college in Manchester for one night only, Stuart Orme (Pharaoh). Faith was unfortunately suffering a touch of laryngitis, which muted her customary incisive tones, but more generally the soloists were hard pressed to make themselves heard above the band and the serried ranks of the chorus. Nonetheless, a solid performance full of variety and beautiful sound.

The concentration, discipline and self-confidence fostered by this activity of choral singing shines through every performance by the Young Voices, who evidently appreciate the great privilege that is theirs of working with professionals of the high standard of Geoff Weaver, Mike Elden and Suzzie Vango. The choir will have further opportunities to showcase their skills at a “Choirworks Showcase” for members of choral societies from around Worcestershire and Herefordshire, in May, a concert at Great Witley Parish Church in June, and on a tour to North-East England in July.

Ray Harrowing