OH! WHAT A NIGHT(S)!

Can't believe it...!  Those rehearsals have paid off and we've nailed our two Summer Concert appointments and what great 'Nights With The Phoenix' they turned out to be!  No, I'm not being less modest than usual... ...that's what we were told! Our usual fuller report will appear under our 'Past Events' on this very website in due course, but we need to say a few words here first.  Maybe there's an excuse for a week of blogs, because there is so much to mention?  Let's stick to performances in this one!

We were very pleased to return to Loddon on 20th, having last visited quite a while ago now.  We were very well-received by our audience there, and even more delighted to learn that we had helped the fundraising efforts of our hosts!  They tell us: "Thank you so much for the excellent concert last Saturday. The feedback has been great with everyone thoroughly enjoying the evening."  Well, it was our pleasure entirely, and we look forward to our next visit!

Then we were back at 'home' on 27th to our rehearsal base at Mile Cross where we are just getting used to some of our kind supporters taking to their feet in applause at the end of the sung proceedings, so thank you again.  Not only were an advance party from Millhouse Green Male Voice Choir there (and if you need a reminder, "Eyes Right" for our new poster, because we will be welcoming the full MG MVC as our guests at our next Concert when they come visiting Norwich!), but they did confirm they were still visiting after they had heard us sing, so phew...!  That will be a great night too, with we Phoenix from the Flames and our Singing Steelmen guests!    2 for the price of 1 !

Another great night - in fact, several great nights - will be had at the first ever Opera Festival in Norfolk between August 8th and 11th at a beautiful venue just to the east of Norwich!  And about time too, you cry!!!  In fact, male voice choirs and opera companies have more in common than one would expect... ...neither, as our own songsters will happily confirm, is 'just singing', and neither, if done properly, creates any barrier to being able to enjoy the stories that are being told.  Even better though is that the organiser, 'Into Opera', is a local idea and the brainchild of a lady from this very County, much like our own Choir!  I don't mind the brazen self-interested 'plug' to help get the whole idea off the ground as they have said some very nice things about our website and social media presence!  Thank you!!!  It's also very true that the centrepiece opera this time features one of yours truly's favourite arias and if the sneak peek (and listen!) is anything to go by, it should be the first of many annual festivals of Opera in Nelson's County for years to come.  So, bring it on, Genevieve, welcome home and break a theatrical and operatic leg for Norfolk!