AN AUTUMN SPECTACULAR

United Church, Dorchester

MAGIC moments, that was one of the songs that the Casterbridge Male Voice Choir performed during this concert, and it pretty well summed up the whole show.

Under the direction of Julia McFarlane, the men sang a range of popular foot-tapping melodies in their own inimitable style that was filled with harmony and pleasurable memories.

Special guest for the evening was Joe Lindley who played an ambitious Mozart bassoon concerto and a solo piece by Weissenborn, no easy task for any bassoonist but especially when you are only 15 years old and still at school

Even more surprising was Joe’s bass voice in the second half of the show when he sang two solo Mozart pieces and Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific, an amazing achievement for a young male voice which has not yet reached maturity. This is a young man destined to go far.

With piano accompanist Louise Dukes and teenager Hannah McFarlane on the flute keeping the pace going, the choir were well looked after by their musicians for a varied concert in which they paid tribute to such popular artists as Dusty Springfield and Perry Como as well as show-stoppers from Les Miserables.

Always on the lookout for new singers to join them, in particular tenors and basses, the choir members clearly enjoy their concerts and the friendly informal atmosphere that they create makes their performances a pleasure for audiences and singers alike. Long may they continue.

MARION COX