Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Once again the marvellous Manama Singers have been in full rehearsal mode to herald the start of the festive season in Bahrain this coming weekend with two concerts, one Saturday afternoon performance, especially for children, and an evening event, writes Stan Szecowka.
The merry band of amateur enthusiasts has been established on the island for 45 years allowing people from different cultures and walks of life to come together to share their love and passion for music.
At present around 35 members – 25 women and 10 men aged from 25 to 70 holding down a variety of careers including teaching, engineering and business consulting – join together to rehearse every Tuesday at St Christopher’s Cathedral.
This coming Saturday is one of the most important dates on the annual performance schedule and attracts huge support from the community. Sadaf Karim, chairman of Manama Singers, said: “This particular show is very important to all of us. It is that time of the year when we reflect on our year and share the festive season together. Our Christmas concert also helps us raise a decent amount of funds for charity too. Manama Singers holds charity very close to its heart and has helped numerous local charities in the past.
“We don’t have a particular theme for this year’s concert but we can promise you are in for a treat. We have our traditional carols and an amazing repertoire planned for our audiences.” The matinee at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Manama will be staged at 4pm and is a family get-together with children welcomed and the evening concert takes place at 7pm.
The repertoire of work will include numbers from John Rutter, Donald Fraser, J.S. Bach, Earlene Rentz and Victor C. Johnson. The Manama Singers will be directed by Leah Churchill and accompanied by acclaimed pianist Gavin Stewart.
Last year’s festive performances were reviewed for GulfWeekly by Linda Jennings who described them as ‘outstanding’. “If you are new to Bahrain, or have been here a while but not yet attended this annual event, I can thoroughly recommend that it becomes a permanent fixture in your diary each year,” she added. “Whilst, of course, conductors and pianists change from time-to-time, the overall well-tried and tested programme of events for the Christmas concert remains the same with wonderful singing of both traditional and lesser known numbers, together with audience participation.”
Tickets priced BD6 for the matinee and BD7 for Saturday’s evening show are available at Al Osra in Saar and Amwaj Islands, The Bookcase on Budaiya Highway, Words Bookstore
Café and the hotel and can also be bought at the door.
New singers are always welcome, there are no auditions and all people are asked to do is ‘bring a smile and love of music’ along to rehearsals.
Like the Manama Singers Facebook page for regular updates or email manamasingers@gmail.com for more details.
