upfront
JUST KEEP SINGING
AS 2014 approaches there is about to be a whole new year of birthdays and
anniversaries, not many of them will be nearly as exciting than the BBC National
Chorus Of Wales, who will be hitting the big three-zero this Jan. Originally formed in
1983, the amateur singing group consist of over 100 members and work to the high
standards of professional music. In the new year the chorus plan to celebrate their
pearl anniversary with style and class with a special performance at St. David’s Hall.
Their new season will include many performances of classic pieces, such as Fauré’s
Requiem, a song that holds significance to the chorus’ history.
“That brought back memories because we sang that at Albert Hall in our concert when
Princess Diana died,” explains Jeff Davies, a talented singer who has been with the BBC
National Chorus Of Wales for 30 years. “On that night, the night of the funeral, we were
going to sing Poulenc’s Gloria but they actually changed it to Fauré’s Requiem. Going
into London just after the funeral there were thousands and thousands of people
about, but it was terribly quiet. We sang the concert in the Albert Hall. There was no
applause, and that the only time I can ever remember the promenades not clapping
at the end of a concert. We sang Fauré’s Requiem again in the Madeleine in Paris,
where Fauré actually wrote the Requiem; that was an incredible experience.”
Joining the chorus since its inception, Jeff has been with the BBC National
Chorus Of Wales throughout its history. “I saw an advert in the Western Mail,” he
reminisces, “auditioning for this super new choir with high expectations. I really
didn’t think I’d get in, but I auditioned. And I’ve probably done about 15 auditions
since; you have to audition every couple of years. You’re not there for life.”
Despite the repeat auditions Jeff has continued to sing passionately with the
chorus: “It’s the buzz of being an amateur but having performed with the greatest
names, conductors, orchestras, fantastic soloists. I got to sing a duet with little Aled
Jones, and the record went platinum. It’s the only environment in Wales where you
can work at that level all the time, as an amateur.” HEATHER ARNOLD
pic: BETINA SKOBRO
JASON MANFORD
JASON Manford should grab all the sleep he can get. The affable Manc is
embarking on his largest tour yet, covering the four corners of Britain in a series
of shows that will keep him on the road until April 2014. The size of his new
tour – First World Problems – is not only a culmination of several years of hard
work and overcoming controversy, but also an epitome of what makes Manford
so accessibly great. The set-em-up-to-knock-em-down routines of old still make
the cut into the set, but are now interspersed with more mature and relatable
material, which undoubtedly mirrors the changes in Manford’s personal lif.e.
After rising to prominence as a team captain on television panel show 8 Out Of 10
Cats, Manford’s stage shows furthered his reputation as a quick-witted stand-up
discussing trivial everyday problems. Spells presenting The One Show and Show
Me The Funny, as well as another live tour Turning Into My Dad followed, before
Manford took a step back from the limelight to concentrate on spending time with
his three young daughters.
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