Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel Band

Guests: Castleford Male Voice Choir
Blackburn Hall
Saturday 7th May

Two great joys of my childhood (pre television) were enjoying the rehearsals of our local Silver Band, generally from outside the hall, and accompanying my parents to their separate choir practices, so an invitation to join two friends for a concert with a Brass Band and Male Voice Choir was immediately accepted.

At Blackburn Hall I eagerly awaited the concert featuring the Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel Brass Band, under the direction of the talented Roy Curran, and the Castleford Male Voice Choir.

The band opened the evening's performance with ‘Mephistopheles' and this stirring work gave an indication of the pleasure to come. The band was superb, and the quality of tone and harmony was exhilarating. I found myself sitting upright, totally oblivious to others around me. The image of the conductor's skill in leading the band was a cameo of entertainment. We were privileged to enjoy a gifted soloist in the guise of Alan Fowler; whose performance was absolute perfection - sheer excellence.

The Castleford Male Voice Choir was an absolute delight. Their selection of music was interesting and very varied. They showed their tremendous versatility with their voices bringing perfection to every song.

The choir showed their prowess singing gently and powerfully as was demanded from each item. Their voices soared true and magnificently when they performed, demonstrating the talents within the choir. Each melody produced warmth of sound that graced the hall, and its good acoustics. Every word of the lyrics could be distinctively heard.

The whole evening was a delight to behold and one I hope will be repeated.

Rachael Smith

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