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An Evening of Popular Classics
THE Bridgewater Hall is a far cry from Wembley Stadium where Martin Toal performed at the 2008 England v Israel football qualifier.
But the applause after every aria or Irish folk song on Friday night mostly from his new CD ‘Cockles, Mussels and Arias,’ was equally warm.
Martin toasted the organisers, the Rotary Club of Lymm whilst singing ‘The Drinking Song’.
But the ‘Evening of Popular Classical Music’ was not a one-man show.
In a complete change of mood, Martin included 'All I Ask of You', a duet with the sweetly toned soprano, Claire Ronan who once performed alongside Pavarotti.
Four of his most emotional songs were accompanied by fast playing violinist, Craig Owen, including ‘Torna a Sorrento’ when Martin’s notes flew across the hall like seagulls.
The highly acclaimed Altrincham Boys Grammar School Swing Band, accompanied the rest.
Claire Ronan and Craig Owen, with his own band, appeared in the first half.
Claire sang three solos. The one that really touched me was ‘Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man’.
It was a refreshing change to hear Craig play popular numbers on the fiddle, demonstrating its versatility.
His rendering of ‘Por Una Cabeza’ was accompanied by two young pairs of ballroom dancers from the Altrincham based June Rendell Academy of Dance performing the tango.
Before that, pupils, choreographed by Suzanne Bosworth, had demonstrated modern and classical dance.
Sword swishing
Their display concluded with the sword swishing ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’.
A surprise addition was Pierce O’Connor’s frenetic display of tap dancing.
The 60-strong Rochdale Youth orchestra under the musical direction of Fred Bowker played heartily both before and after the interval.
No wonder they had reached the national finals in ‘Music for Youth’.
Children always bring out my motherly instincts but the Bowdon Prep School Choir didn’t need mothering as they sang beautifully, ‘Can you Hear Me’ using sign language and ‘Walls come Tumbalin’ Down’.
They were lucky to have as musical co-ordinator, Elizabeth Paterson, an internationally renowned singer.
The highlight of the evening came when all the performers united for an emotional ‘Last Night of the Proms’.
Italian and Irish songs temporarily forgotten, English patriotism took hold.
The audience brought the roof down with ‘Rule Britannia’,‘Sailor’s Hornpipe’, ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ and ‘Jerusalem’ led respectively by Claire Ronan, Craig Owen, Martin Toal and he and Claire Ronan together.
The national anthem never sounded so good as when Martin Toal took command of it as he had done so often at football matches.
I thought the audience would never go home they were having such fun.
When they did, they left something precious behind – much needed funds for the Christie Hospital, the North West Air Ambulance Service and the Rotary Foundation.
Reviewed: Tue, 05 May, 2009
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