Songsters galore at Toad Lane Concerts
OCTOBER resounded with songsters; all making a welcome post-covid return.
All praising the fabulous acoustic of St Mary’s in the Baum for singers.
All celebrating a wealth of British songs.
October 5: Prizewinning and maturing soprano Lucy Farrimond is currently studying for a master’s at the RNCM and recently made her live BBC Proms Solo Debut in Haydn’s ‘The Creation.’
Duo partner pianist Duncan Glenday has performed over 300 concerts throughout the UK and over 20 piano concertos since graduating first-class from the joint degree course of the RNCM and Manchester University where he now teaches.
Their inspiring recital included twentieth century British gems from Quilter, Elgar, Vaughan Williams, and Eric Coates, plus Britten and his teacher, Frank Bridge.
October 12: Oldham Community Choir with conductor Jonathan Gibson and accompanist J Edward Rigg was originally formed in 1985.
They began their varied concert with ‘Bring me sunshine.’ Soloists emerged from the mixed voice choir.
The final set concluded with the foot-tapping anthem When the Saints go marching in.
Everyone could leave humming their own favourite ray of sunshine.
October 19: John Powell baritone (Cambridge University) was born in London, then worked for many years at Chetham’s, teaching and running the school’s choirs, the National Youth Choir and others and now teaches privately.
He also sang with the BBC Singers and with his own chamber group, the John Powell Singers (with whom he has broadcast nearly 200 times). He continues as musical director of several choirs.
His accompanist, Elin Rees graduated with a master’s in piano from the RNCM and was also organ scholar at St Ann’s, Manchester.
These two first-rate musicians brought to life song cycles by Vaughan Williams and Butterworth, and songs by Finzi as fresh and relevant as ever.
October 26: Freda Farnworth soprano (London’s Guildhall) and accompanist J Edward Rigg are two bastions of the borough’s music scene. They admirably summed up this multitude of returning songsters. Freda is well-known as a soloist, teacher, conductor, and producer; her theme via various composers exemplified this vocal month: ‘The Music’s always there with you.’ The Queen’s Awardwinning Toad Lane Concerts are every
Wednesday at 12.30pm at the Grade 1 listed St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ. Entrance fee is £6. No refreshments available now, but the venue is Covid-19 compliant. Contact 01706 648872 for further information.