500th concert a success

3:47pm Friday 14th March 2008

Malvern Concert Club celebrated its' 500th concert in great style by inviting internationally celebrated artistes Dame Felicity Lott (soprano) and Graham Johnson (piano).

Dame Felicity is a singer with a warm personality and magnetic stage presence and who dresses with flair. She has proved her worth in great measure over many years by delivering superb characterizations in numerous operas world-wide, and also as a great performer in recital. For her MCC recital she chose some of her personal favourites, beginning with German songs by Richard Strauss and Hugo Wolf.

After the interval French composer Poulenc featured.

Next we heard a delightful group of songs by Samuel Barber, each one a story in miniature. First the happy companionship of a monk and his cat Pangur, secondly the chance sighting of two people in a hotel and their silent thoughts. Promiscuity followed, in which Dame Felicity's sense of fun bubbled over as with facial expression and gesture she told the saucy tale of being sure that fair Edan will not sleep alone!' More Poulenc and encores, ending with a witty Noel Coward number, dispatched with dazzling effect.

Graham Johnson accompanied throughout with sensitivity as these two consummate professionals gave a truly memorable concert on this historic occasion.