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This was the latest edition of The Manama Singers’ festive activities and was actually two concerts, including a matinee designed for younger members of the community with a smaller repertoire and a visit from that man in the red suit.
Arguably the adults in the audience had as much fun listening as the children and it is a fixture of the Festive Season that would be sorely missed.
The evening concert featured The Manama Singers with guests to add a different spice to the show. A sadly depleted group of 32 singers, musical accompanist Gavin Stewart on piano, musical director Leah Churchill and guest performers, Szabolcs Nigo on trumpet, Margaret Wang , viola and Alesksandr Vasilyevich Kovalev on guitar gave their all to make the evening concert special.
It was the usual delicious blend of traditional carols and songs along with a couple of recitals to surprise and add a different flavour to the occasion. I especially loved Gavin Stewart’s rendition of Walking In The Air and Szabolcs Nigo singing and playing , accompanied by Gavin, The Christmas Song - shades of jazz and swing always brings a smile to my face.
Those of us in the front row were also treated to the delightful sight of Leah Churchill’s obvious delight with the Singers and her passionate singing as she conducted them in the standards and favourites.
It was shame that there was no Jumbotron to pick up her expressions for everyone to see! The Manama Singers gave a wonderful and powerful performance, as they always do despite the lack of numbers and it is a shame that more people didn’t make the effort to drive into Manama to support them.
I am a long-time fan of the Manama Singers. I have attended concerts almost since the day they first formed back in the 1970s. I have seen the make-up of the choir and the musical directors come and go over the years and watched some stalwarts grow alongside them.
With each new incarnation, the musical directors have shown a different side of the Singers’ talents. And, believe me, they are all very talented. For the first time in many, many years I would have to admit to being disappointed this time round.
Not by the singing, that was glorious as always, it was in the presentation that let it down. The Manama Singers may sing for the joy of singing. More power to them for doing so, but an audience comes along, buys tickets and waits expectantly not only to support them but to be entertained on every level.
Had the piano been paced in a more central position so that Gavin could have been more easily seen, had the microphones for the musicians been ready in place in order for them to arrive professionally to the stands and for them to have been introduced before performing, would have been the event so much more exciting.
In fact, the lack of introduction and explanation of what was about to occur left me feeling short changed. The Manama Singers and their guest musicians deserved to be treated professionally and the audience deserved to be treated as paying guests … not just a gathering of family and friends.
If they wish to attract new singers and gain a wider audience again, then they need to up their game. Still, having said all that, it was a wonderful evening and certainly one worth attending. - Christine Hasan
