The Gala Summer Concert was held on 10th June in the Newry City Hall,
to bid farewell to Colette Hart Lavery our musical director, who retires after 25 Years of dedicated service to the Choir.
The Guest Soloist for the evening was David Martin (Tenor)who performed a beautiful programme well suited to his voice. From Light Opera he sang "You Are My Heart's Desire"and "Vienna City Of My Dreams"and the more modern song "Bring Him Home" from Les Miserables. In the second half of the evening he treated the audience to two romantic Neopolitan songs "Come Back To Sorrento" and " O Solo Mio" which he rendered in Italian. For the final number he sang " Nessan Dorma"with the Choir backing him and the audience erupted Cheers and foot stamping.
Patrick Coyle the accompanist for the Choir, had the piano moved out on to the stage and gave a recital of subdued gentle music. Rachmaninoff's "Prelude in G flat" was very delicate and pensive. The piece by Liszt was subtitled "Forest Murmurs" followed by his own compositions "Sunrise On Annamakerrig Lake"ending with Chopin's "Polonaise in A". Patrick brilliance and shy manner has endeared him to the Cloughmore audience.
Collette in her choice for the Choir ranged back through the repertoire for songs that had special significance for her, and as compare she talked about her reasons for choosing them, making little jokes and teasing the choir. You can imagine how the titles "Drinking Song", "Stouthearted Men" and "Glory And Love To The Men Of Old" gave her lots of scope. The Choir sang these songs very well and with great vigor, followed by beautiful renderings of "The Lord's Prayer" and "Gwahoddiad" a lovely Welsh Hymm. In the modern section "Bridge Over Troubled Water","My Heart Will Go On","Softly As I Leave You", and "Speed Your Journey" all were sung with great feeling, the Choir the finished with a powerful rendering of " The American Trilogy" and got a standing ovation and calls for more. For an encore they sang the rhythmic spiritual " Amen". this ended a wonderful evening and a fitting tribute to Collette for her dedicated service which brought joy and pleasure to the Choir and the Newry audiences. We wish her well for the future.
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The Cloughmore Male Voice Choir
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