Manama Singers & Friends – Le Féte De La Musique – Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa

The final concert of the season was a delicious blend of musical styles and was a glorious summer solstice celebration; it was named La Fete De La Musique in honour of the Parisian festival held yearly since 1982.

For this concert the Manama Singers were joined by future stars from the BSB Academy of Performing  Arts and MASK, who brought with them a host of adoring parents and fans.

The first half of the concert was devoted to works from Carmen by Georges Bizet, leading off with the orchestra showing their prowess with the prelude which set the tone for the evening.

It is well known that I am a fan of Anna Thompson Hall and her Habanera was superb as always, but what stopped me in my musings were the opening notes of Flower Song by Vaughn Miller. Crystal clear and precise notes delightfully delivered. 

It was followed by the soulful voice of Mary Vallencourt with the Gypsy Song.

Then, just when it seemed that things couldn’t get any better, Walter Maakestad burst onto the scene with Toreador. He didn’t just sing it, he lived it!

After the Intermission we were treated to Deo Dicamus by Gottfried Homilus with Vaughn Millar and Ericka Nottingham Rawles delivering the solos with their usual precision and John Ritter’s version of Heilig by Felix Mendlssohn.

Next came a very ambitious selection from Les Miserables with the younger guest singers taking the solos. I will be honest and say that whilst I think that Gabriella Liandu has a lovely voice and range, the song I Dreamed a Dream, which is hard for any professional singer, was a little too much for her. However, she rose to the occasion with her performance of Bring Him Home with James Liandu.

Yannis Panagis and Raith Hamzah did a very credible job with Do You Hear The People Sing and I hope we see them on stage again.

The finale belonged to all the Manama Singers who had been gently in the background the entire evening accompanying the soloists and the orchestra. 

Cantique de Jean Racine, Op 11 by Gabriel Faure and edited well by John Ritter, with Katrina Ladwig as accompanist was absolutely delightful. The closing anthem Let All the World in Every Corner Sing, bringing together the voices of the Manama Singers, MASK and The Acadamy of Performing Arts was a fitting closing statement, for sing they did!

Credit is also due to Sadaf Karim and George Lyndsay who having a depleted orchestra and choir to work with, managed to create the famous Manama Singers Wall of Sound when needed.

And, lastly, a tribute to Deb Monsen who moulded the entire evening with such a delightful joy de vie that I think the original La Fete De La Musique organisers in Paris would be proud.