SOPRANOS Christine Fairs and daughter Annabel, accompanied by Donovan Brown and Jenny Jeffrey, proved to a near-capacity audience at Findon Valley Free Church on Sunday, September 7, that, despite the rain outside – and the considerable amount that got in when the roof sprang a leak - that it was indeed "a grand night for singing".
The immortal song of that title by Rogers and Hammerstein was the third number in an agreeable and well-balanced programme.
Both lady singers, adorned in the most gorgeously colourful dresses, melted the hearts of the audience with their Evening
of Light Musical Entertainment, the crowning event of the church's flower and arts festival weekend, ably assisted by Donovan Brown at organ and keyboard, and Jenny Jeffrey at the piano.
It was a joy to be reminded what an outstanding singer Christine Fairs is, while it's clear on the evidence that daughter Annabel (still at school) is set to join her in eminence.
Both ladies had command of their voices, their music and their audience. Annabel is developing an excellent dramatic sense and rapport with the audience, through her fluent body-language, eye movement and already impressive presence on stage.
She is being very wisely trained by Rita Noakes not to distort her natural voice, but to extend her range and technique by gradual stages towards musical maturity.
Already her own person, in musical and other ways, she showed complete confidence as she sang for us.
This dramatic flair was exemplified in a highly amusing fashion in the mock-competitive duet, Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better, by Irving Berlin, from Annie Get Your Gun, when mother and daughter slammed each other with as much skill as glee.
Their other duets were similarly delightful, as were those of Donovan and Jenny (with Faure's Berceuse and Walton's Swiss yodelling song).
Donovan and Jenny also offered some pleasing solo contributions, although Jardins Dans la Pluie might have been more suitable than Debussy's 1st Arabesque, ably played by Jenny, against a light background of rushing water.
She also played the Allegro from Otto Singer's piano arrangement of Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, while Donovan's rendering of Robert Jones' Menagerie Musicale was sheer fun.
The Flower Duet by Delibes, sung by the ladies, had a perfect setting in the lovely arrangements of the flower festival all around the church.
More songs from the musicals and arias from high opera completed the first half.
The interval provided an opportunity for hot drinks while we toured the pictures of the arts festival, executed by the church art club to a collectively very high standard.
In the second half we were treated to both Panis Angelicus and Pachelbel's Canon before Christine concluded with some devotional numbers, preceded by a very apt and touching affirmation of her personal christian faith.
The proceeds of the concert, plus a retiring collection, raised more than £1,000 for the St Barnabas and Chestnut Tree House hospices, about which the trust chairman gave us a brief update.
Thanks were expressed to David Fairs, as compere, the front of house staff, and all the other church folk who had contributed to the success of the weekend.
If only a fraction of what this church attempts to offer bears fruit, it would still be a massive service to its local community.
Last night's audience showed they had every reason to be delighted with the evening they were given.
Martin Ward ..........
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