Monday 14 March 2022
At last Saturday’s Rachmaninov concert almost £2,000 was collected for the Ukraine Appeal. The concert, featuring Rachmaninov’s All Night Vigil, in St Mark’s Church Broomhill, was dedicated to the memory of Margaret Staniforth, a much-missed second soprano who had been a member for many years until her death in 2019, and to the people of Ukraine.
‘We are thrilled with the generosity of our audience’ said Chorus Chair Paul Henstridge, ‘We were very keen to present Rachmaninov’s beautiful work as a symbol of our solidarity and friendship with the Ukrainian people. Margaret’s widower Kim attended the concert as an honoured guest, and was very pleased that the concert was also be offered in friendship with the Ukrainian people.’
The Chorus started working on Rachmaninov’s haunting All Night Vigil during the lock-down, rehearsing online from their own homes following the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, for a performance that was scheduled to take place last year but which had to be postponed. The programme began with beautiful but rarely-heard songs by Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky, sung by Plymouth-born mezzo-soprano Charlotte Badham accompanied by Chorus pianist Rachel Fright.
The retiring collection will be donated to the Red Cross Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine Appeal.