The Corws Colin Jones Concert at Denbigh Town Hall on February 25, 2017 lived up to all expectations.
The maestro Colin Jones, accompanist Olwen Jones, and the Corws served up a wonderful musical variety in one programme.
It was a packed Town Hall. A sense of anticipation and excitement pervaded.
The Corws and Colin Jones received a generous welcome as they came on stage.
Corws Colin Jones Concert at Denbigh Town Hall
As we approach St David’s Day, ‘Y Ddau Wladgarwr’ is an appropriate opening song. This Joseph Parry duet for tenors and baritones showcased the tonal quality of the choir.
We could tell we were in for a real treat.
The love of our country further endorsed with ‘O Gymru’ (Rhys Jones).
Corws Colin Jones Concert Soloists
The hallmark of any Colin Jones choir is to provide self-contained entertainment. It provides abundant soloists of assured quality from within the choir ranks.
The first to perform was John Price who sang ‘Llwybr yr Wyddfa’. One of the great Welsh tenor solos.
John is also a member of the Denbigh and District Male Voice Choir.
John Arwyn Davies then sang ‘Some Enchanted Evening’ out of South Pacific.
Corws Colin Jones returned with Silver Trumpet, Sunrise Sunset (from Fiddler on the Roof) and ‘An American Trilogy’.
Then, twins Trefor and Emyr Wyn Jones sang ‘Arglwydd Mae yn Nosi’. A tender evening hymn.
A choir trio performed Robat Arwyn’s ‘Maddau i Mi’ (Ave Maria). The trio also perform independently as Trio Canig.
Corws Colin Jones closed the first half with classic opera. Jerusalem from Verdi’s Il Lombardi together with The Prayer from Wagner’s Lohengrin.
Corws Colin Jones Concert Second Half
Corws Colin Jones opened the second half with hymns ‘Bryn Calfaria’ (Laudamus) and ‘Deep Harmony’.
Tenor Arthur Davies sang ‘Gwlad y Delyn,’ another all time Welsh favourite.
Gareth Rowlands gave us the full range of emotional angst with ‘Eri Tu’, aria from Verdi’s ‘Un Ballo in Maschera’.
Then two contrasting songs from Corws Colin Jones showed a range of tonal quality. Joseph Parry’s evergreen ‘Myfanwy’ and the stirring ‘The Creation’ (Willy Richter).
Alf Blackman (second tenor) sang the emotional ‘Sul y Blodau’ and the choir trio then returned with the gospel song ‘He Touched Me’.
In summary Corws Colin Jones Concert ended a wonderful evening of musical contrasts and cultures with ‘Nessun Dorma’.
Corws Colin Jones with Denbigh and District Male Voice Choir (Photo by Eirian Watcyn-Jones)
The Denbigh and District Male Voice Choir joined Corws for ‘Gwahoddiad’.
The prolonged standing ovation assured.
WOW! Fantastic concert by the amazing @corwscjchorus at Denbigh tonight! Thanks guys! You really did us proud. pic.twitter.com/XRoUgeVYqF
— Denbigh Male Choir (@DenbighChoir) 26 February 2017
Great Blog Richard. Captures a really excellent concert by our friends the Corws, The concert showed why male voice choral singing has been very much the poorer since Colin retired from conducting Cantorion Colin Jones. The Corws performance last night demonstrated why Colin is undoubtedly ‘The Maestro’. A night that will provide many lasting memories.