ON a beautiful autumn Sunday an enthusiastic and appreciative audience heard the first of many concerts to raise funds for the Cathedral\u2019s Music Foundation.<\/p>\n
Robyn Antoine, a keen lover and fine singer of operetta, gathered an outstanding group of singers, named Enduring Classics to join her for Operetta in the Cathedral.<\/p>\n
The ensemble featured Antoine, Sophie Salvesani, Lyndon Green, Steward Greedy, Vincent Sully and accompanist Geoff Urquhart. A surprise addition to the group was the Dean, the Very Rev\u2019d Chris Chataway, whose fine tenor voice added depth to a number of rousing choruses.<\/p>\n
In welcoming the audience, the Dean gave an overview of the Music Foundation and how it will contribute to the future of the growth of young people with an interest in expanding their knowledge of music.<\/p>\n
The program commenced with a rendition from The Student Prince and from the first notes the audience knew they were in for a first-class afternoon\u2019s entertainment.<\/p>\n
Salvesani is currently singing in West Side Story with Opera Australia, and it was Ballarat\u2019s good fortune that a tour in south east Asia had been cancelled and she was able to fly down from Brisbane. Her duet with tenor Green was whimsical and coquettish and the singing sublime.<\/p>\n
Greedy with his fine bass voice demonstrated his love and understanding of operetta and showed this off to good effect when he sang Ol\u2019 Man River and I Won\u2019t Send Roses.<\/p>\n
The final two pieces of the concert were I Vow to Thee My Country, lead by Antoine and You Raise Me Up.<\/p>\n
The next in the series of Cathedral Music Foundation is on Sunday, 9 June when the Penny Quartet will play Haydn and Prokofiev.<\/p>\n