THE 11th Celebrate Voice festival in Salisbury was another record-breaker, founder and artistic director Lynsey Docherty (covered in a black “flashers” mac) told the packed audience at the final event, the last performance of Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love at the Guildhall.
Lynsey (pictured right) was all ready (under the voluminous raincoat) to go on stage as Giannetta in the story of the wimpy-but-lovestruck Nemorino and his quest to attract the attention of wealthy landowner Adina, aided by a snake-oil salesman and his love potions. But before the first bars were played by the excellent MD Phillip Thomas, she wanted to thank the festival’s sponsors and the audiences for the 2024 event, which brought more artists than ever before to Salisbury and provided a wide variety of musical events.
There is a real feeling of community about Celebrate Voice, which caters for all ages and all tastes, and includes participatory and workshop events that involve the visiting professionals and local singers.
The festival began with a sell-out concert by Nigel Short and his ensemble Tenebrae in the beautiful setting of St Thomas’s Church, singing works by JS Bach and James MacMillan.
As is now traditional, the finale was the opera, again designed and directed by Fred Broom. Simply staged and beautifully sung, the production brought Scottish soprano Monica McGhee to Salisbury as the skittish and reckless Adina, and Daniel Gray Bell as her misery-me suitor. Felix Kemp, who made such an impression at Dorset Opera earlier this year, switched roles from the lovelorn Dick Dewy in Under the Greenwood Tree to the super-confident Belcore, captain of the guard and a favourite with the ladies. James Cleverton was a suitably charismatic Dulcamara, the phony doctor with his bottles of cheap wine masquerading as cures for all ailments, including lack of love.
It was all great fun, performed in what is now the traditional spirit of Celebrate Voice, with the festival director again having fun as the flirtatiously scheming Giannetta and an eight-strong chorus of villagers and soldiers. Company manager Caroline d’Cruz again showed that turning the pages for the accompanist is an art-form in its own right.
Plans for the 12th festival in 2025 are already under way, and Celebrate Voice fans now look forward to the Christmas event, in the Medieval Hall in the Cathedral Close from 12th to 14th December. The hall provides a magical setting for carols, opera, show songs, cabaret and more, and you never know quite who will be on stage. The festival website has all the details.
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