Friday, January 9, 2015 Follow us on Twitter @Argus_The Guide Songs of hope from choir


THE African Children’s Choir will delight audiences with adorable smiles and wonderful songs on a night of heart-warming music at St David’s Hall on Wednesday. The Grammy-nominated


group have performed eve- rywhere from Live 8 to the Royal Albert Hall, and even in front of world leaders at the United Nations. Also, the children recorded the official Diamond Jubilee track Sing. The concert features many


of their much-loved songs accompanied by instrumen- tation and hand-clapping, as well as traditional spirituals and contemporary tunes. Composed of children aged


6-12 – many of whom have lost both parents through war, famine or disease – the choir brings inspiration to listeners. Despite the tragedy that has marred their lives, the children are radiant with hope and portray a message of happiness in their music. They represent the entire youth of a continent and demonstrate the potential of African children to become strong leaders for a better fu- ture in their homelands. Thirty years ago, Ray Bar- nett founded Friends in the


FOLK: Sykes & Preston


IN THE space of two short years, Miranda Sykes and Rex Preston have become one of the most sought-after duos on the English folk and roots scene. Well known for the last eight


TOUR: The African Children’s Choir


West (now called Music For Life) while working among Uganda’s persecuted Chris- tians on human rights issues during Idi Amin’s reign of terror. Barnett brought the children to the US in Septem- ber 1984 and formed the first


African Children’s Choir. Since then it has helped sup- port and educate thousands of homeless and disadvan- taged children. This tour aims to increase


awareness of the needs of destitute and orphaned chil-


In The Spotlight


YOU’D think that as I walk around Manhattan - just off 5th Avenue - on Christmas Day, that the contents of this column and the concerts cov- ered in this newspaper would be quite a long way from my thoughts. Not so. I am at one of the world cen-


tres for the arts. If there is one small area on earth that brings together the perform- ing arts at their best more than any other, it may well be here - the Lincoln Center. As I stand at the heart of the complex of buildings I am surrounded by the Avery Fisher Hall (home of the New York Philharmon- ic), the New York Ballet, the New York State Theatre, that legendary conservatoire of the arts - the Julliard School (which gave rise to the most hackneyed of wisecracks : Lost tourist to passerby - ‘How do I get to Julliard?’ Answer - ‘Practise, practise, practise!’), and, dominating the scene, is the Metropolitan Opera House (‘The Met.’). All of these es- teemed institutions stand within a few yards of one an- other. A cultural oasis in the heart of the maelstrom that is the Big Apple. And what was the first post-


er that I saw outside this most revered of opera houses? –


dren in Africa and to raise funds for the African Chil- dren’s Choir Programme. The sponsor Music For Life supports 7,000 homeless and disadvantaged children in Africa and provides emer- gency assistance to orphans


By


GERAINT DAVIES


Spring season of delight SPELLBINDING: Hansel and Gretel


‘‘Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel performed by the Met- ropolitan Opera in the pro- duction created by Richard Jones for the Welsh National Opera, translated from the original by David Pountney.’’ This immediately brought home to me the significance that our national opera com- pany has on a world stage. It certainly made me proud to be Welsh.


Coincidentally, this is the same production as that giv- en by the WNO as part of its spring season, beginning on February 7, entitled ‘Spell-


bound’. The German com- poser of this magical work, Engelbert Humperdinck, is certainlywhatmightbecalled, in crass popular parlance, a ‘one hit wonder’. Though a disciple of Wagner, his music is in a more naive, folklike style and Richard Jones’ witty and dark interpretation of the well-loved fairytale should be a visual and musical feast, and an excellent introduction to the opera house for a young audience. Also featured in this season


is another piece of fantasy - Mozart’s problematic mas-


terpiece ‘The Magic Flute’. A mix of serious and comic with many layers of meaning, and allusions to freemasonry (Mozart was the most famous of all early members of ‘the brotherhood’). This surreal production, with its angry lobster and fish doubling as a bicycle, is a rich mix of panto- mime, religion and philosophy and promises to be a memora- ble experience. The third of the season’s productions features WNO’S redoubtable chorus (with so- prano Lesley Garrett) in an evening quite simply entitled ‘Chorus’. It has almost been taken for granted in recent years that, whatever the op- era and whatever the quality of the WNO production, there will always be one constant – the high quality singing of the chorus. They are, arguably, the best in the country. It is fit- ting that they should have an evening in which this wonder- ful ensemble should take cen- tre stage. Chorus: Feb 7 - April 11 Hansel and Gretel: Feb 21 -


April 11 The Magic Flute: Feb 13-28 All at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff


IMPRESSIVE: Swan Lake


SWAN Lake is probably the most famous ballet of all and this visit marked the first time for my daughter and I to see it. We had previously enjoyed


the Nutcracker before Christ- mas so we were really looking forward to seeing this ballet over the Christmas season at St David’s Hall. Performed by the Russian State Ballet of Siberia the show was both captivating and en- chanting in equal measure and kept us both entertained on a cold winter afternoon. Wewere amazed by the perfor- mance of all the cast portraying the story clearly through dance with almost no props and only backdrops to set the scene. The lead performers were fantastic ,leaving us surprised by the


Review: Swan Lake St David’s Hall


capabilities of their dance abilities. One of the most exciting scenes was at the beginning of the second half where the corps de ballet perform, it was really impressive to see all the dancers in unison. Finally a mention to the or- chestrawho play live in every performance, a real highlight that added to the excitement of the evening. The Russian State Ballet of Siberia is currently touring around the UK until March 2015.


Rachel Howells


across Bosnia, Romania and Albania. Tickets cost £9-£12, with under-12s £5 (plus a £2.95 ser- vice charge per transaction). To book, please visit stdavid- shallcardiff.co.uk or call the box office on 029 2087 8444.


years as a central component of Show of Hands, Miranda has an exquisite and spine- tingling voice, whilst Rex, with his flamboyant playing, has built a reputation as one of the finest mandolin players in the UK. The duo are embarking on an extensive tour of the British Isles in support of their arrest- ing new CD Sing a Full Song. They play the Lyceum Folk


Club January 15. Doors 8pm, start 8.30pm. Tickets £10 from on 07966754366 or on the door.


Impressive staging of a favourite ballet


Highly rated duo to play


5 Culture


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