Winchester delight for Llanelli Choral Society

The beautiful and historic venue of Winchester Cathedral was the venue for an A Night of Great Choruses from the Llanelli Choral Society.
The Choral Society, with a reputation for mastering great performances of the greatest and most demanding oratorios and operas, took their audience on a journey across many operas and oratorios with great favourites such as Handel’s Zadok the Priest, the Anvil Chorus, Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves, Aida’s Grand March, Elijah’s Thanks be to God, Benedictus from Karl Jenkins’ Armed Man and highlights from Handel’s Messiah – including the Hallelujiah Chorus.
Under the direction of conductor and founder John Hywel Williams, the Society showed passion and strength in their rendition as they toured a popular yet difficult programme of great choruses.
A strong performance was enjoyed by this ever-growing mixed choral force.
Acclaimed Welsh soprano, Adele O’Neill, filled the whole of Winchester Cathedral with her vocal acrobatics and delightful melodies and repertoire including Mozart’s Alleluia, Bellini’s Casta Diva, Gounod’s Je Veux Vivre from Romeo and Juliet and a beautiful rendition of My Little Welsh Home.
Bringing a lovely contrast to the evening were the Rushmoor Male Voice Choir who demonstrate fine singing and excellent control and discipline as they complemented the Choral Society and soloist with a light and popular repertoire of sacred and secular works – with diverse pieces ranging from When th eSaints go March in (arr Rutter), to Charles Aznavour’s classic ‘She’ to The African Prayer.
Despite their Welsh co-artists, the men of Rushmoor would have put many a Welsh male voice choir to shame, not only with the quality of their performance, but also their Welsh renditions of the Sunset Poem – known to many as Eli Jenkins’ Prayer from Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood and the classic male voice hymn Gwahoddiad. Their conductor, Stephen Petch, should be proud of their performance.
Sensitive and skilled accompaniment was provided Jean Hywel, Marjorie Wakefield and organist Mike Williams.
The evening was inspired by the human voice and many would leave the Cathedral with a piece of the vocal rainbow – the wonder of the human voice, the technical skill of the singing, the beauty of the melodies, the stirring of the imagination, the firing of emotions or the simple pleasure of the evening enjoyed as friends and as a community.