Toad Lane Concerts: Voci Voices

Voci Voices: (left to right) Jonathan Ellis, Eric Cymbir, Elizabeth Ambrose, Margaret Ferguson and Mackenzie Paget

The award-winning group Voci Voices made a welcome return to Toad Lane Concerts on Wednesday 4 September.

Elizabeth Ambrose (soprano), Margaret Ferguson (mezzo), and Eric Cymbir (tenor) welcomed a newcomer to the quartet, Mackenzie Paget (baritone) who also happens to be a first-class pianist but used his voice to great advantage. There were international hints too, with performers’ roots in Ghana, Poland, Scotland and Wales all sharing a platform, accompanied by English pianist Jonathan Ellis who at times reproduced the full orchestra or sensitively supported the vocal harmonies.

This splendid troupe performs regularly and has previously appeared at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Eisteddfod and Buxton Festival Fringe to great acclaim.

There was vast variety in their choice of styles of music, all of which was beautifully arranged.

From the sparkling show songs Lullaby of Broadway and 42nd Street, Sing, Sing, Sing! And Who Will Buy? from Oliver; and inspirational sacred songs, Stainers setting of Love Divine! All Love Excelling and Wood’s Agnus Dei. Plus, traditional and folk songs from four corners of the British Isles with Dorset’s Linden Lea, An Eriskay Love Lilt, Londonderry’s O Danny Boy and the Welsh Bugeilio’r Gwenith Gwyn (Watching the Wheat).

We were even treated with opera excerpts with a scene from The Elixir of Love by Donizetti beginning with a beautiful duet from Margaret and Eric. Then came duets for Elizabeth and Margaret from Bellini’s Norma, and Elizabeth and Mackenzie from Mozart’s Don Giovanni. Finally, a pair of popular standards for the quartet: Fields of Gold and Get Happy.

An encore was demanded and given with a stirring arrangement of I wish you love, rounding off an enthusiastic and packed songfest admirably suited to the acoustics of St Mary in the Baum.

The Queen’s Award-winning Toad Lane Concerts are every Wednesday at 12.30pm at St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ. Entrance fee is £6. No refreshments available. Contact 01706 648872 for further information.

To see details of forthcoming Toad Lane Concerts, click here.

Dr Joe Dawson