Victory Hall, Dalston

This was indeed a concert to remember. I have seen the Dalston Male Voice Choir in performance several times during the past few years but this concert, to celebrate their Thirtieth Anniversary was truly special. There were several fine and very neat touches to mark the occasion. Firstly, former musical director and Honorary President, Hilary Hodgson made a welcome return to conduct one of the pieces, “The Rose”. Secondly, the glittering solo performances of Sarah McAllister, who had been the choir’s first soloist enhanced the evening most appropriately. The concert concluded by a warm, appreciative and extremely impressive speech from the Chairman Ray Fearon and of course there was the presentation of the 30th Anniversary cake by kind permission of the Dalston Bakery.

Engaging as the research and the stage managing of the evening was, it was the music which really made the evening. We were treated to a wide range of material and this symmetrical programme had pairs of various genres. Two spirituals were sung with fervour in Gwyn Arch’s “When The Love Comes Tricklin’ Down” and a well-driven “Where Could I go To But The Lord” in the second half. Two musicals were represented in Les Miserable and a brilliant rendition of “Stout Hearted men” from “New Moon” and two operas featured in the ever popular “Nessun Dorma” by Puccini and Verdi’s chorus of the Hebrew slaves, which concluded the concert. Most impressive of all to me were the two Welsh hymns, “Gwahoddiad” and “Tydi a Roddaist” sung with great aplomb actually in Welsh. There was an African Trilogy and a World War One Trilogy and all in all this was one of the most polished concerts I have seen for a long time.

A great feature of the Dalston Male Voice Choir is that one can always hear every word as clear as crystal and this performance was no exception to the rule. Music Director Michael Deakin produced a first class concert and was on top form himself when singing with the accomplished Sarah McAllister and the excellent accompaniment of Lorraine Gash at the piano added a touch of perfection to the evening. May the next thirty years prove as successful as this evening was. I am sure that there were many in the audience that night who would echo that sentiment.