Charmed by the magic of Vienna

Memories of Vienna at the Marlowe Studio on July 3 Marlowe Friends chairman June Brewer treated the audience to an evening of the magical music of 19th century Vienna in the theatre’s Studio venue.

She narrated the story of a singer in The Theater an der Vien who had just retired and who was looking back over her career.

It was a story June herself had researched and written.

At the piano was Carol Anne Wells who provided the most sensitive accompaniment to the singers, members of Cameo Opera.

As always, Cameo Opera amused, charmed and pleased their audience with the wide selection chosen by June from Viennese operettas by Strauss, Lehár, Kalman and some other less well-known composers.

From the opening of the programme, with the four joining together in Vienna, City of My Dreams, to the closing selection from Die Fledermaus, each singer had the opportunity to display their vocal talents.

Soprano Clarissa Stedman’s solo Art Is Calling For Me with the refrain I Want to be a Prima Donna showed exactly why this was so appropriate, as did On My Lips from Guiditta.

Her duets with tenor Ian Parrett gave them both scope to display their voices but also their acting and dancing abilities.

I am sure Ian’s solos You Are My Heart’s Delight and Girls Were Made to Love and Kiss made many ladies’ hearts flutter in the large audience.

As always, Judith Buckle’s rich mezzo-soprano voice gave pleasure to all, not only in her solos but in the duets and ensembles.

Her talent for comedy, with Matthew Craven, was displayed well in Driving in the Park and You Too. Matthew’s sense of fun and mischief came to the fore in Goodbye from The White Horse Inn.

One of the non-singing highlights of the evening was the Strauss Piano Selection that opened the second half of the programme, so beautifully performed by Carol Anne Wells.

Once again June Brewer can be very proud of the evening’s entertainment – the narrative she had written told a charming story which enhanced the beautiful music.

This was the 127th production she has arranged and organised for The Marlowe Friends.

Margaret Barker