SHREWSBURY KINDLES THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS

This old grouch has never felt so Christmassy for years, and it is all thanks to what happened in Shrewsbury last Saturday.

Shrewsbury Choral brought to life "The Spirit of Christmas" together with the choirs of Meole Brace School and Prestfelde School, accompanied by the spirited Meole Brace Chamber Orchestra under the clear, urbane baton of Martin Charles Cook.
This was a wonderful celebration from participants of all ages, reflected in the community audience packing this huge, ancient building. We heard well-delivered orchestral offerings, with a particularly moving Hansel and Gretel Overture (wonderful winds, the orchestra needing a few more strings), contributions from the children which caught the heart (one little dot jigging along gleefully), though perhaps needing a bit more forward projection towards the audience, and sonorous singing from Shrewsbury Choral itself.

And the whole evening was genially marshalled by Wynne Evans, his compering continually taking the mickey out of his "Go Compare" persona – and the night's conductor, valiantly filling the acoustic of the vast, noble Shrewsbury Abbey without the assistance of a failed sound-system, and somehow maintaining his voice to give us memorable solo offerings, such as "Have yourself a merry little Christmas" among several others.

He also encouraged us to join in community carol-singing (even I contributed my cross-bred tenor/baritone), and goaded us to Mexican wave at the "Five gold rings" episode in The Twelve Days of Christmas, and that was a hoot.
All of the performers had donned Christmas garb for the second half of this heartwarming concert – Evans appearing in a variety of Christmas jumpers – an event for which it would be difficult for anything else to go compare.

Christopher Morley writing in the Birmingham Post

Shrewsbury Choral Christmas Concert December 4th 2021

Shrewsbury Choral’s programme; The Spirit of Christmas”, raised an interesting question: Was it a concert or was it a comedy show? Thanks to the compering skills of Wynne Evans it was both! There was certainly no chance for a delighted audience to ‘Go Compare’ with any other event!

Wynne -the man with the enormous, curly moustache and the huge tenor voice- was a brilliant compere ( no pun intended), by turns mocking and encouraging yet also thrilling us with that voice which delights opera audiences around the world.

There were fine contributions from Meole Brace Chamber Orchestra under conductor Dr. Martin Cook who also directs Shrewsbury Choral; and choirs from Meole Brace and Prestfelde Schools, while Nigel Pursey provided sensitive accompaniment on the organ. These brave musicians even survived the vocal efforts of the capacity audience!

Having no sound system was not helpful but thankfully Mr. Evans’ voice and enormous presence filled the Abbey while his jokes - not to mention his amazing collection of seasonal sweaters – kept us entertained!

After a spirited rendition of Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel” overture, Wynne Evans introduced himself (quite unnecessary) and the programme. We heard the first arrangement by John Bowen. John is Shrewsbury Choral’s accompanist who gave us the much loved “O come all ye faithful” as well as a medley for all three choirs and orchestra. Tunes included such old favourites as Jingle Bells and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. This was an impressive performance, not least because of frequent changes of key and tempo which kept the singers on their toes!

The school choirs were both excellent and well rehearsed and Shrewsbury Choral, although a much smaller group than usual, were in fine voice.

The second half was again conducted by Dr. Cook now resplendent in a long red coat-no accident that he looked like a circus ringmaster. The musicians also sported some sparkling headgear and some of them put on false moustaches! The audience joined in John Bowen’s “The Twelve Days of Christmas” but our attempts at a Mexican wave for “5 Gold Rings” were excruciating!

Mr. Bowen’s final arrangement of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” brought the evening to a rousing finale which was preceded by a heart-warming rendition of : “O Holy Night” by Adolphe Adam in which Wynne Evans, was supported by the orchestra and the Shrewsbury Choral.

The whole evening was wonderful -in fact, my neighbour turned to me and said: “That was well worth coming out for!” In our troubled times there could be no greater praise.

Andrew Petch