Opus 5 (Four singers and a pianist)

Programme

Brindisi (Verdi) – Opus 5
(from “La Traviata”)
Think of Me (Lloyd-Webber) – Charlotte
(from “Phantom of the Opera”)
Ballade in G Minor (Chopin) – Wendy
Flower Duet (Delibes) – Louisa & Charlotte
(from “Lakme”)
The Catalogue Aria (Mozart) – Rod
(from “Don Giovanni”)
Celeste Aida (Verdi) – John
(from “Aida”)
O Mio Babbino Caro (Puccini) – Louisa
(from “Gianni Schicchi”)
The Pearl Fishers Duet (Bizet) – John & Rod
(from “Pearl Fishers”)
1st Arabesque (Debussy) – Wendy
The Prayer (Foster) – Opus 5

INTERVAL

Tonight (Bernstein) – Opus 5
(from “West Side Story”)
Lorelei (Gershwin) – Louisa
(from “Pardon my English”)
Love Changes Everything (Lloyd-Webber) – John & Charlotte
(from “Aspects of Love”)
Prelude in G Minor (Rachmaniov) – Wendy
I Dreamed a Dream (Schönberg) – Charlotte
Stars (Schönberg) – Rod
Bring Him Home (Schönberg) – John
(All 3 from “Les Miserables”)
La Cid a rem la Mano (Mozart) – Louisa & Rod
(from “Don Giovanni”)
Nimble Fingered Gentleman (Mayerl) – Wendy
Time to say Goodbye (Sartori) – Opus 5

Press Report

The twenty-third season of concerts promoted by the Middlewich and District Concerts Society was given a rousing start on 6th October by Opus 5 – four singers and a pianist.

The ensemble – Louisa Mould (soprano), Charlotte Gibson (mezzo), John Pattison (tenor), Rod Rees (baritone) and Wendy Dolby (piano) – began with a spirited performance of “Brindisi” from La Traviata and finished, appropriately, with “Time to say Goodbye” by Francesco Sartori. In between we were treated to a wide range of well known songs from opera and musicals, including “Think of me” (Phantom of the Opera), “Nessun Dorma” (Turandot), the “Flower Duet” (Lakme), the duet from the Pearl Fishers, “Tonight” (West Side Story) and “I Dreamed a Dream” (Les Miserables).

Wendy also played solo pieces for piano by Chopin, Debussy, Rachmaninov and Mayerl. These allowed the singers to regroup, whilst demonstrating the virtuosity of the pianist.

Although the balance between the performers was not always ideal the concert was well received, eliciting numerous favourable comments from the audience.