A Night at the Opera
By Ben Cornwell
Sound Waves Community Choir have been preparing since January for their upcoming concert ‘A Night at the Opera,’ which will be taking place at St Mary in the Castle on Thursday 28 April from 7.30pm. The concert was set to take place in April 2020 but was sadly cancelled due to Covid and the sudden national lockdown. The choir, led by musical director Debbie Warren, will be performing popular arias from operas such as Verdi’s ‘La Traviata’, Puccini’s ‘Turandot’ and Bizet’s ‘Carmen’. On top of this, they have also prepared a medley from the Phantom of the Opera and a cover of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. Recently I went to see the choir in action at one of their rehearsals on a cold and wet Tuesday night not really knowing what to expect.
CREDIT: Ben Cornwell
I do not consider myself to be an opera aficionado. In fact, I could probably count the number of arias that I know on one hand. However, I have always had a lot of admiration for the genre and find it frankly impossible to hear Nessun Dorma without getting goosebumps. It makes me realise how astonishing the capabilities of the human voice truly are. While I was there, I was lucky enough to listen to the choir’s rendition of Toreador from Bizet’s ‘Carmen’. It was a truly brilliant performance and credit must go to musical director Debbie Warren, and I must say if the rest of songs in their setlist are sung at anywhere near the same standard, the audience at St Mary in the Castle will be in for a real treat.
John Page, who has been a member of the choir for the last five years, admitted during the coffee break that the choir hasn’t found it easy learning the songs, as it requires a very different singing technique. “It’s a bit more challenging as you throw your voice a bit more with opera and there is a lot more of the higher register for the men. In fact, we did have an opera workshop recently with Thomasin Trezise who came along for four hours or so to teach us how to speak Italian and how to sing opera properly.”
Sound Waves Choir rehearsing
CREDIT: Ben Cornwell
Another member of the choir, Roz Ziebell added, “But we like a bit of a challenge and we all look forward to coming to the sessions each week. Sometimes before a rehearsal, I may be feeling tired and think why am I going out? But once I am here it really energises me and I enjoy it.”
On the night, the choir will be accompanied on piano by Helen Ridout. They will also be joined by two local professionals – Susannah Appleyard, an opera singer and classical soprano who has performed across the UK, Europe and to royalty, and also professional singer Sarah Mallinson, who studied classical singing, piano and music theatre at The Royal Academy of Music in London.
Entrance on the night is free, but a collection will be made in support of the choir’s chosen charity. This year the choir have picked Little Gate Farm, which provides training and work experience for adults with autism and learning disabilities.
• The choir are always happy for new members to join. Rehearsals are every Tuesday from 7.30-9.30pm at the Salvation Army Hall, St Andrews Square in Hastings. You can register on their website at www.soundwaveschoir.org.uk
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