Opera in the Garden

The Culture Vultures and friends hosted a fund-raising concert in the beautiful surroundings of Anne and Paul Kersterton’s garden in Adliya on Saturday and raised BD2,000 for the Madeleine McCann fund.

The money will be used to help finance the search for the little girl abducted in Portugal and will also help any other families who might find themselves in a similar plight.
Award-winning tenor Mark Le Brocq sang, accompanied by Bahrain-based Michelle Miles. This is international opera singer Le Brocq’s third time on the island, he returned this month to sing with the Manama Singers in their sell-out production of Carmina Burana at the Crowne Plaza.
“I am delighted to be able to include this intimate al fresco concert in my short tour,” said Le Brocq. “I think we are all feeling ‘there but for the grace of God go I’ and it is wonderful to be able to do something to help in the search for this poor little girl.”
The evening was the brainchild of Anne Kesterton and her friend Sayra Naoumovitch - and the Culture Vultures jumped at the chance to help with the organisation of it. 
“We only had a week in which to pull this event off, which even by our standards is pretty tight,” said Culture Vulture Emma Garrett, ‘but people have been incredibly supportive, the sponsors Sabre Travel Network, Well-Flow International WLL and BCS amazingly generous, and the evening was truly magical – we also raised over BD2,000 for the ‘Leave No Stone Unturned’ appeal which is marvellous.”
The music was a delightful mix of Opera, Oratorio and English Song. 
Le Brocq’s voice soared majestically through the balmy evening air, thrilling the captivated audience. Miles accompanied beautifully and came into her own with her ethereal rendition of Debussy’s Arabesque. Nine-year-old treble Christian Trzebinski also made a special guest appearance during the evening.
All donations received at the concert will go to the Madeleine McCann ‘Leave No Stone Unturned’ fund (www.findmadeleine.com).
If you would like to make additional donations, please contact Emma Garrett on +973 9085324 (before June 9, please).