Our Male Voice Choir at The Royal Albert Hall, London, Sat 3rd November 2012
What a mission! What an adventure! What a journey!
The journey started late autumn 2011 when we were invited to take part in a massed choir tri-annual Festival of Brass and Voices at The RAH London in aid of Cancer Research UK. The 2009 concert had raised in excess of £ 150, 000 for the charity.
We were required to learn 15 new songs over the next twelve months including difficult classics The Hallelujah Chorus, Morte Christe, Gloria and The Soldiers Chorus. Considering we had only learned 30 songs over the previous 20 years it represented quite a challenge and some doubted the possibility of success. But..."we started to sing and we tackled the thing that couldn't be done...and we did it".
Following a year of hard work but fun including trips for rehearsals at Dumfries and Elgin, we were excited and ready for the off from Waverley Station on our chartered train, The Caledonian Chorister, at the unearthly hour of 6am on the Friday. Our train was more Thomas the Tank than The Hogwarts Express and if Harry Potter had seen it, he would have given it a good seeing-to with his magic wand. The eight and a half hour journey south was a bit of an endurance test bearing in mind the unwritten choir rule of abstemiousness on the day prior to a big concert. Saturday's rehearsal for four hours at Europe's premier concert hall didn't prepare us for the awesome site of the Royal Albert Hall in full evening concert mode with an audience of over 5000 enthusiasts. For over three hours under the baton of William Relton, the hall was filled with the sound of 1500 voices, two magnificent bands in The Grimethorpe Band from the north of England and the Cory Band from Wales together with the mighty Albert Hall organ. The performance, the colour, the sensational sounds and the vibrancy of the full house will live with all of us for the rest of our lives. The event was recorded for posterity on a DVD (available from the choir) and while it is a great reflection of the evening's concert, you had to be there to experience the electric atmosphere.
The Sunday trip home on The Caledonian Chorister appeared to pass somewhat quicker due perhaps to the lack of abstemiousness. The journey was over our mission for 2012 accomplished. Onwards and upwards for a new mission in 2013! We have a planned programme including:
The Burns Supper
Six-Nation visitor entertaining
Charity Concert at Stewarts' Melville College
Tour & performances at the Limerick International Festival
Fund raising concert for LRFC 20/20 vision
Festival of Brass & Voices at The Usher Hall (16th November for Cancer Research UK)
IF YOU ENJOY SINGING, SOCIALISING AND FUNDRAISING FOR GOOD CAUSES
NOW WOULD BE A GREAT TIME TO JOIN US!
THE WARMEST OF WELCOMES AND A GREAT 2013 PROGRAMME AWAITS
Rehearsals restart on Monday 7th Jan 2013 at 8.30pm in LRFC Clubhouse. Please just come along and try it or for further information phone:
Chris Thomas (07823 884802)
Harry Lynch (07540 634550)
Derek Pattle (07710 441276)