Sunday, September 13, 2009

Home again...

.... after a lovely week in Victoria.

The trip to and from Melbourne with Pam involved good fun, lots of chatter, great music, and the joy of seeing the countryside looking so very, very green, with dams full to the brim and rivers running higher than we've seen for a long time.

It was a week of meeting up with old friends, getting to know a new friend, Jane, spending a few hours with my landlady of 45 years ago (she is now 95 and as active as someone half her age), and enjoying delicious meals at our motel in Clayton.

The highlight of the trip though was the glorious concert at Monash University on Sunday afternoon. The Victoria Welsh Choir, with David Hobson as guest soloist, was magnificent, singing many favourites including:

Men of Harlech,
Rachie,
Arwelfa,
Jerusalem,
Llanfair,
An Eriskay Love Lilt,
Drink to Me Only,
Si Hei Lwli 'Mabi,
Speed Your Journey
African Prayer.
Every Time I Feel the Spirit,
Little Innocent Lamb,
The Gospel Train,
House of the Rising Sun,
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother,
Yesterday,
Da Doo Ron Ron

David sang the following songs, many of them in Welsh, and I've never heard him in better voice. Others who have been to many more concerts than I have, agreed.

Y Deryn Pur (The Dove),

David of the White Rock,

La donna e mobile ~ (Rigoletto - Verdi)

Ah! Levè-toi soliel! ~ (Roméo et Juliette - Gounod)

]Non ti scordar di me ~ (de Curtis)

Cwm Rhondda (Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah)[with choir]

Ar Hyd Y Nos (All Through the Night) [with choir]

The Holy City* ~ Adams

Danny Boy [with choir] ~ Irish Trad.

You Raise Me Up ~ Løveland

'Til There Was You ~ (The Music Man - Wilson)

Blackbird ~ (Lennon/McCartney)

I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face ~ (My Fair Lady - Lerner/Lowe)

There'll Never Be Another You ~ (The Seekers)


The concert ended with the audience of 1500 joining with David and the Choir in a soul-stirring rendition - in Welsh! - of the Welsh National Anthem - Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (Land of My Fathers)

9 comments:

Pear tree cottage! said...

What a wonderful time it sounds like you had We are having the Welsh Choir visit our town of Kyneton on the 18th of October I am sure to enjoy that very much.....good wishes to you always. Lee-Ann

Marlene Depler said...

Sounds like a delightful trip! A nice combination of food, friendship, scenery, and music. Who could ask for more than that?!?!

Kali said...

What a fab sounding week you've had. Definitely ticks a lot of my boxes for a good time!
Isn't it wonderful to see the landscape looking greener and so much more water around...oh and by the way, I think David is dreamy, in voice and looks :)

Gattina said...

Looks as if you enjoyed your trip very much ! I like to do that too from time to time !

Laura in Paris said...

What a delightful trip you had! So much warmth in your descriptions, I really enjoyed reading your post.

diane b said...

Glad to see you back. The choir must have been wonerful to hear. Sounds like you had a friendly, fun trip. I like Melbourne too.

Kerri said...

Did you sing in Welsh, Miss Alice?
It sounds like a wonderful concert. David is amazing...singing in Welsh, Italian, and who knows what other language...besides English. What a talent he has...and brilliant besides ! I'm sure you were on cloud nine :)
I'm glad you had such an enjoyable trip, and how satisfying it must be to see the countryside looking green and healthy again.
I'm sure Richard is glad to have you home again, even though you've been off seeing another man ;)

Alice said...

Yes, Miss Kerri, I did sing in Welsh - 'phonetic Welsh'...lol. The words were printed on the program in Welsh and beside them were the words phonetically. I'll try and do a post on them.

Re David's languages - English, Welsh, French, Italian, German, Spanish and even Latin, so far.

Countryside looked fantastic....if only it would stay that way!!!

Merle said...

Dear Alice ~~ I am so glad that you
enjoyed your visit to Melbourne and
the concert. It sounds as though you really enjoyed the music.

I am so pleased that you enjoyed my jokes etc. I don't do a lot of dusting either - just enough.

Take care, my friend, Love, Merle.