Presented by the Tutti Choir and the Choir of Hope and Inspiration
Reviewed Sunday 19th September 2010
Venue: Adelaide Town Hall
Season: One performance only
Duration: 2hrs 30min incl interval
The Tutti Choir are well known for their uplifting concerts, but this one was something else again, as they gave the first half of the concert themselves and then handed over the stage for the second half of the concert to the Choir of Hope and Inspiration, formerly known as the Choir of Hard Knocks. The combined choirs then closed the concert with two rousing numbers.
Both groups were accompanied by some fine musicians, with Jorge Papanaoum, Philip Griffin, Cliff Stoddart, Shayne Tarling, Gina Chadderton, Pavlos Soteriou and choir member, Jenna May, supporting the Tutti Choir and Stephen Blackburn, Alan Dinh and Simon Chiodo supporting the Choir of Hope and Inspiration.
Popular local identity and food enthusiast, Maggie Beer, was the MC for the evening, her beaming smile showing that she was very happy to have been given the opportunity to be a part of this event. Her cheerful introductions added to the feeling of fun and good humour. Founder and artistic director, Pat Rix, conducted the first number then handed over to resident conductor Jonathon Bligh.
Tutti’s half of the programme began with a number of songs ideally suiting the aims of both of these inclusive choirs: Anything is Possible, Hakuna Matata , from the film, The Lion King, and a Zulu prayer, arranged by Pat Rix, U Mama, with the powerful voice of soloist Jayne Hewitson filling the auditorium. This led into a beautifully poignant rendition of Calling All Angels, with soloists Annika Hooper and Aimee Crathern stopping the show. After the loud and extended applause finally died away there was a change of pace as the choir revisited their recent Broadway Spectacular concert with a Gershwin medley that really got the toes tapping.
More welcoming and motivational songs followed with What the World Needs Now and Oh Happy Day. Tutti’s selection ended with a song written by several members of the choir with the assistance of Pat Rix and Philip Griffin, Seachange. The audience joined in wholeheartedly with the hand movements that the group had choreographed to go with this song, led by soloists Aimee Crathern, Annika Hooper, Emma Taylor and Michele Thredgold.
As if this superb selection of songs was not enough, a short interval led into the second half with the Choir of Hope and Inspiration, opening with You Gotta Be and the rousing Let’s Get Loud, followed by the traditional indigenous song, Innanay, as arranged by the band, Tiddas. In a very diverse programme they next moved to Gershwin’s Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off and the touching Billie Holiday number about one of her abusive relationships, Fine and Mellow. Then it was back to Gershwin and another showstopper, with a superb rendition of Summertime from his folk opera, Porgy and Bess. A fine version of John Lennon’s Imagine and Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah led into two final songs, both written by musical director Dr. Jonathon Welch, Stand Up, and the choir’s theme song, Hope and Inspiration.
Along the way various members of the choir were introduced and they spoke of their visit to Adelaide, their time with the choir, the highlights of their experience since joining the group and of their personal successes that they attributed to having found themselves in such a positive and supportive environment. With both of these groups it is a lot more than just about the singing. It is a much greater thing to all of the participants than regularly getting together to rehearse and occasionally giving a concert. If you have been to a concert by either of these groups, you will know what I mean and, if you haven’t, it is high time that you did.
Both of the choirs then came together for a highly enthusiastic rendition of Shout, that got everybody clapping and threatened to bring the ceiling down, and the concert closed with the title song, Happy Together. It was obvious that these two groups were exactly that. The audience insisted on more and so there was a brief encore, but all good things must eventually come to an end. The applause continued until the choirs had left the stage.
It might have been unpleasantly cold outside but it could not have been warmer in the Adelaide Town Hall, with these two groups of singers sharing their love of music with a delighted audience.
Reviewed by Barry Lenny, Arts Editor Glam Adelaide.
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