St Michael's Church hosts 'Victorian Night at the Proms'

Staged by the St Michael's Singers on Friday, July 3, the evening brought a lively Victorian 'Night at the Proms' to Tenbury Wells in a well-attended and acoustically rich setting.

Led by Jacqui Cable, the choir delivered a thoughtfully curated programme that balanced audience favourites with more technically demanding pieces, all performed by a group of dedicated non-professionals.

The church’s acoustics and the presence of the Father Willis organ added to the evening’s atmosphere, with organist Stephen Price on hand to accompany.

Long-serving pianist Kath Ainsworth also contributed her talents, impressing the audience with her accompaniment throughout the night.

One standout moment was the performance of Delibes’ 'Lakmé Flower Duet' by soloists Margaret Morrell and Jacqui Cable, which many in the audience described as the highlight of the concert.

The repertoire offered something for everyone, featuring works by Beethoven, Fauré, Handel, Verdi, Ethel Smyth, and Sir Arthur Sullivan.

The first half featured Beethoven’s 'Joyful, Joyful, We adore Thee,' during which the audience joined in singing alongside the choir.

During the interval, guests enjoyed a glass of bubbly before returning for a second half that included pieces by Mozart and Puccini, including a rousing 'Nessun Dorma.'

The evening concluded with a patriotic singalong, with audience members waving Union Jack flags during renditions of 'Rule Britannia,' 'Jerusalem,' and Sir Edward Elgar’s 'Pomp and Circumstance.'