One of the highlights of the Mayoral year is undoubtedly the Gwalia Singers annual concert, so I was honoured to be asked to attend tonight due to the Lord Mayor having other engagements.
The Gwalia Singers is a male voice choir formed in 1966 out of the remains of a small operatic society. As such they celebrated their 50th anniversary last year with a prestigious concert held at the Brangwyn Hall, with guest stars Shan Cothi, Trystan Llŷr Griffiths and compere Roy Noble.
Tonight the concert took place in All Saints Church in Mumbles, home of a striking stained glass window memorial to local lifeboatmen and the final resting place of Thomas Bowdler.
The Gwalia Singers were supported by Bella Voce, a four part ladies vocal group based in Pembrokeshire. Bella Voce means beautiful voice. The group were brought formed in 2013. Their repertoire was eclectic and their shoes were colourful and bright.
The Gwalia Singers treated us to individual arrangements of Morte Criste, Ave Maria, Nella Fantasia, O Gymru, Ay Hyd y Nos, Cwm Rhondda, Angels and American Trilogy to name just a few, culminating in a very spirited and inspiring Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau from both groups. The Welsh National Anthem is still one of the top three anthems in the world today.
It was an excellent concert and the church was packed, despite the rival concert featuring the Killers taking place at the other end of the City in the Liberty Stadium. Both groups of singers fully deserved the standing ovation they got at the end.
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