Concert 2 2017

VOCI SUPERBIO AS WELL AS STUPENDE.

In the second concert of its 2017 season the Yass Music Club presented the very talented Voci Stupende group of singers which gave a delightful performance to an enthusiastic Club audience in the Memorial Hall on Saturday, 29th April.

The concert was designated as ‘The Katherine Holmes and Mary Reid Memorial Concert’ and it was a great pleasure for us to welcome so many members of the Holmes family as our guests.

Voci Stupende is organised by Hugh and Janey Fraser in their efforts to encourage talented young singers into concert performances. Most of the musicians of Voci Stupende are continuing their musical studies at the Conservatorium and in various other teaching institutions and the membership of the group is constantly changing as new members join it to replace those who have gone on to other musical experiences.

The performers on this occasion were Claire Erin Richards, Katherine Allen and Georgia Melville  (Sopranos), Victoria Hodgkinson (Mezzo-soprano), Michael Butchard (Tenor) and Jared Lillehagen (Baritone) with the piano accompaniment being provided by Ben Burton, who played so beautifully on our Steinway Grand.

The girls  presented themselves spectacularly in their beautiful evening gowns and the men were dressed formally, as they would be in any operatic concert performance, in black tie and they looked quite fantastic both individually and in ensemble.

The program included works of Bizet, Gounod, Gasparini, Verdi, Offenbach, Handel, Bellini, Mozart, Delibes, Donizetti and Johann Strauss II and the selections  had been made with an ear to each of them at their melodic best.

The concert opened  with a spirited rendition of ‘Votre toast’ from Bizet’s Carmen by  Jared and the whole ensemble followed by Georgia’s soulful interpretation of Gounod’s ‘Ave Maria’.

The singers continued to work through a sumptuous selection of very well known pieces, including ‘Belle nuit, o nuit d’amour’ from  Tales of Hoffman, ‘Lascia Ch’io Pianga’ from Handel’s Rinaldo,  ‘Ebben Ne’Andro Lontana’ from Catalani’s La Wally and, just before interval, from Bellini’s Beatrice di Tenda, ‘Angiol di pace’ sung by Katherine, Victoria and Michael.

A delightful supper was served by the Berinba P&C and concluded with the drawing of the raffle for a donated Voci Stupende CD which was won by Jay.

The singers  responded well to the enthusiasm of the audience and the second half began with the glorious duet,  ‘Au fond du temple saint’ from The Pearl Fishers by Bizet, well sung by Michael and Jared and Claire followed with ‘Dove sono i bei momenti’ from Mozart’s The Magic Flute.

There was more Mozart in ‘Papageno-Papagena’ again from The Magic Flute and Georgia and Jared revelled in the sprightly good wit of the piece.

Katherine and Victoria then gave a glorious rendition the Flower Duet from Delibes’ Lakme followed by Katherine and Michael with   ‘Tornami a dir che m’ami’ from Donizetti’s Don Pasquale.

The final two items on this rich musical feast were ‘Bella figlia dell’amore’ from Verdi’s Rigoletto and a rousing Johann Strauss II piece ‘Bruderlein und Schwesterlein’ – To all the brothers and sisters of the Music Club as well as to the world at large –  and the whole of Voci Stupende joined in to complete a most engaging concert performance.

Next year is the 65th year of the Club – our Sapphire Jubilee – and we already organised some wonderful artists to celebrate this special milestone in our Club’s history . 

A message of congratulations to one of our most loyal members, Derrick Mason, who received an Order of Australia (AM) in the January Honours List for Services to the Booroowa community. Well done, Derrick!

Our next concert will be on Sunday, 18th June at 2.00pm and will feature the brilliant jazz pianist, Wayne Kelly and his Trio in an entertaining afternoon of great jazz.

This will be a concert not to be missed!

Submitted by Brian Millett.