Frome Voices sing Mozart in come-back concert

NEARLY 100 singers will be raising the roof at the Cheese and Grain on Sunday 26th March as Frome’s biggest community choir, Frome Voices, looks to perform their first full-scale concert for the first time since Covid.

Together with a professional orchestra and soloists, Frome Voices will be presenting a full-scale performance of several works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, culminating in the dramatic and much-loved ‘Requiem’.

Organisers say, “The choir is delighted to be performing again after the restrictions of Covid and hopes to welcome a sell-out audience at Frome’s fantastic venue, the Cheese and Grain.

“We are delighted to welcome some fantastic soloists with international reputations and local connections. Frome-based Andrew Huntriss is a bassoonist of international renown who will play Mozart’s rarely heard bassoon concerto, and bringing their fabulous vocal skills, the choir is thrilled to have Emily Bradley (soprano) and Thomas Humphreys (baritone) with us for the evening.

“Thomas and Emily used to live in Frome, and some years ago Thomas was a finalist in the prestigious Maureen Lehane Great Elm Music Awards. Some readers may remember the fine performance he gave in Frome Voices’ performance of Elijah a few years ago.

“We are also delighted to welcome another Great Elm Award finalist – our tenor soloist, Alex Aldren, who achieved nation-wide fame as the ‘singing doctor’. Alex trained as a doctor, then switched back to his first love of singing, before returning to the wards when Covid hit.

“Catalan Mercè Bruguera Abelló, who studies at the Royal Academy of Music, will be our mezzo-soprano soloist. In 2018 she won the Elena Gerhardt Lieder Prize and recently sang Mozart’s Requiem in Verona. The orchestra will be led by Maxim Del Mar and Alan Burgess will conduct the performance.

“Frome Voices is at the heart of the local community and prides itself on being open to all. Experienced singers join with others who have never sung in a choir before, and the choir believes that the joy of learning and performing glorious music together is one route towards the creation of a strong and happy community.”

Doors from 6.45pm with the performance starting at 7.30pm. Free for under 18s. Tickets are available through the Cheese and Grain website or in person at the box office. Further information is also available on Frome Voices’ website – fromevoices.org