The Yorkshire Festival of Music
5-Nov-2003Sellers International Band, Yorkshire Building Society Band
13 Ladies and 42 Male Voice Choirs
Conductor: Wiliam Relton
Yorkshire Cancer Research Concert
Royal Albert Hall
Saturday 1st November
On Saturday 1st November 2003 The Sellers International Band and The Yorkshire Building Society Band along with 13 Ladies Choirs, 42 Male Voice Choirs and a guest Choir from the Netherlands totalling 1400 Choral Artistes participated in the Yorkshire Festival of Music organised by`"Yorkshire Cancer Research" in the Royal Albert Hall, London Conducted by Bill Relton and Compered by Gordon Kaye.
This was the Sixth Festival of Music providing a weekend for all Yorkshire people to travel down to see this great celebration of music. The weekend began when all participants travelled down on Friday evening in readiness for a two hour massed rehearsal in the Albert Hall on Saturday afternoon.
The audience exceeded 6,500 people and the atmosphere was electrifying. To enter the Stage surrounded by 56 Choirs and such a vast audience all shouting and applauding was phenomenal.
The bands' programme began with Elgar's Pomp & Circumstance No.4 followed by a solo band item from the Yorkshire Building Society Band performing Silver Threads among the Gold, Soprano Cornet Soloist Peter Roberts playing with great style and panache. The Massed Bands continued with Procession to the Minster an item which brought the audience to their feet.
The second half commenced with The Hallelujah Chorus for band and choir followed by Light Cavalry Overture for massed bands. The highlight of the concert was the performance of the complete 1812 overture with bands, choirs and organ a unique arrangement by Bill Relton incorporating choral parts in Russian. The concert concluded with Elgar's Pomp & circumstance no.1 which included audience participation and the traditional sea of read, white and blue flags across the Albert Hall.
The majority of the audience for this event had travelled down to London from Yorkshire to support the concert for which Yorkshire Cancer Research must be commended for their remarkable efforts in organising and co-ordinating this.
Carole Crompton
