It's a truism for a reason: times must fly when you're having fun, for though I've attended a good dozen of these midweek concerts by now, this one seemed the shortest— though it went beyond the usual 45 minutes these affairs take.
«I got rhythm» and «Summertime» by George Gershwin, arranged by Dennis Armitage, «Moon River» and the Pink Panther theme, both by Henry Mancini and both arranged by Ms. Roberts herself, and a very whimsical arrangement of the traditional «Lass of Richmond Hill» by E. Warren delighted the audience, which was heard giggling with mirth at the Trio's interpretation.
Amongst these pieces, a masterful arrangement of Bach's cantata «Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring», by Bill Holcombe, and Mozart's «Divertimento No. 4 KV 186/159b», of which the first movement was particularly well-received by an audience north of 200, completed the 50 minutes of musical joy that fell upon us amidst this sunny day.
On the subject of the audience, an almost full hall did not go without notice by the musicians, who remarked that an auditorium as full as Christ Church's was a “real treat”. It's clear by now that Southport, though a small town, is very big when it comes to supporting cultural manifestations. This enthusiasm surely is felt by visiting musicians, and today, reciprocated in spades.
17 of April, 2024