A SPECIAL St David’s Day concert took place at Theatre Ffwrness on Saturday (Feb 27).
The concert began with a combined performance by the Llanelli and Male Voice Choirs of Dunvant.
The first number was Gwahoddiad followed by a very emotional rendition of Myfanwy with the choirs finishing the first joint performance with Y Tangnefeddwyr.
MC for the evening Gary Owen joked that the Dunvant Choir was formed in 1895 and that some of them might have been in the choir that long.
Cor Meibion Llanelli was formed in 1964 and is led by musical director D Eifion Thomas.
Jordan Williams, a former pupil of Ysgol Gyfun y Strade was up next and proved to be a firm favourite with the audience. This talented young man gave wonderful performances of Dy Garu o Bell and Ysbryd Y Nos. He is one of many performers who is a member of the Loud Applause Rising Stars and he was a member of ‘Only Boys Aloud’. He is currently studying at Swansea University.
Cor Ysgol Iau Llanegennech brought a World flavour to proceedings starting off in Romania with Niska Banja followed by a traditional African song Tsho Tsholoza complete with African dancing to boot. This was followed by something much closer to home Lliwiau’r Hydref. The audience really warmed to the children’s performance and they gave them a rapturous round of applause following every song.
Since 2011 the choir have been finalists at the Urdd Eisteddfod in 2011, finalists in the UK Wide ‘School’s Got Talent’ competition and they went on to be the winners of the large primary school choir’s at the Urdd Eisteddfod in 2013, 2014 and 2015. They came second in the BBC’s ‘Songs of Praise, junior choir of the year’ competition in 2014 but eventually won it in 2015.
Glamour, passion and the beautiful operatic voice of Welsh Mezzo-Soprano Eirlys Myfanwy Davies was to follow as she took to the stage in a beautiful sparkling dress to perform Una Voce Poco Fa from the Barber of Seville by Rossini.
After hitting all the high notes it was time for a more contemporary number made famous by Mario Lanza, I’ll Walk with God from the Student Prince by Brodszky. Eirlys has won many accolades and awards including being named as ‘voice of the future’ at the Llangollen International Festival. She is currently a trainee at the National Opera Studio in London.
A touch of Laugharne and Cwmdonkin Drive came to the theatre as Dylan Thomas was offered up to the audience with Barry Evans from Dunvant Choir reading a verse from Eli Jenkins’ Prayer soon to be joined by the whole choir singing the remainder. The performance held the audience spellbound and firmly rooted in the best of Welsh culture and music on offer.
Gwinllan a Roddwyd I’m Gofal by Caradog Williams ended the choir’s first half solo performance. Following the interval it was Cor Meibion Llanelli’s turn to take to the stage first with a performance of Au Fond Du temple Saint, with wonderful solo performances by Terry Richards and Byron Thomas. This was followed by a very up tempo version of the Elvis Presley song ‘Teddy Bear’.
MC for the evening Gary Owen had promised a great second half to the concert and it exceeded his promise: it was a magnificent coming together of the best of local talent.
Cor Ysgol Iau Llangennech took to the stage again and demonstrated why they have been so successful at competitions throughout Wales. Os Oes gen ti Gan was first followed by Gwyl Y Baban but they did as they say save the best for last with a very jazzy version of Byd yn Un with multiple layers of children’s voices ringing out around the packed and beautifully decorated Theatre Ffwrness.
Eirlys Myfanwy Davies lit up the stage once again as she began her second half performance with a lively rendition of Sequidilla from Carmen. The next number was firmly set in Wales as he performed Welsh Medley by Rhys Taylor. Eirlys received a tremendous ovation from the audience as she completed what had been an outstanding performance.
The two choirs joined forces once more to lift the roof off Theatre Ffwrnes with performances of Speed Your Journey, Morte Criste and Tdyi a Roddaist.
The finale saw the talented musical directors Jonathan Rogers Lewis Richards and D Eifion Thomas along with the accompanists D Huw Rees, Aled Maddock, Andrew J Pike and Awena Owen take a bow for their outstanding work before and during the concert before being joined by the rest of the artists Cerith Owen from Loud Applause and compare Gary Owen to sing Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.
Thankfully the roof remained on at Theatre Ffwrness, but it was a close call.
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