Wear Your Best Hat!

As part of the Pink Singers' year each of the sections organize a social event for the other sections. This year it is the tenors' turn to kick off, and we are organizing a virtual horse race. not sure what this means? Me too, but details will be forthcoming. In the mean time keep the 4th of December free and take a peek at the poster for the event. The big difference this year is that we are hoping to get London's other LGBTQ choirs to come along and join in the fun!

Epiphany

Every season there comes a time when things finally come together, when the choir moves from simply learning the notes to actually starting to polish the performance, and this certainly was the case this Sunday just gone. I've been away for a couple of weeks, and the change really was noticeable. Most of the Pinkies now know the music and the majority of the lyrics, which means that we are listening to each other more, blending better, and even, as in the interchange between the basses and the altos in our version of West Side Story's America, having a little fun!

What is even better is that this season, the change has happened with five weeks to go before our summer concert. Normally, things only start to fall in place with a few weeks left to spare, and with an even smaller repertoire. The fact that we are now start polishing the performance with so much time to spare, and with nearly twenty songs to learn, is a real testament to the dedication of our choir members, and an indicator of how much tighter as a choir we are. I think people are really feeling it - I know I am!

Another thing I noticed, which I am incredibly proud of, is how we learned the music to Ave Maria within a fortnight. We are singing Schubert's version of Ave Maria, kindly and expertly rearranged for the Pink Singers by Michael Derrick. If you haven't sung it before, you won't have realised how difficult the rhythm is in this piece, particularly since there are multiple accent beats and irregular bar lengths. In any case, with the rehearsal tracks and Mladen bashing us through both verses, we are, dare I say it, actually beginning to sound reverential.

In the nick of time too! We are backing Gari Glaysher at IndigO2 at the dome in a couple of weeks, so really do need to sound our best. Gary came along on Sunday to rehearse with us, and this time we actually got to hear him sing with us. And sing he did - what a voice! I've been in a choir for many years now, and I know my own voice is okay, and has a certain timbre which I am fairly happy with. In fact, I know my voice is more suited to musical theatre, but there are also times when I wish I had the ability to sing one of the really big operatic tenor arias. Unfortunately, such a voice is a rare find indeed, and is a convergence of good coaching and incessant practice, but most importantly, raw and natural talent. This is something Gari has in spades!

We heard him sing Ave Maria with us, as well as a bit of Nessun Dorma, and the "One Voice In A Million" moniker of his concert is entirely apt. It was beautiful, expressive and well-controlled, and evoked quite the feeling of jealousy from almost the entire tenor section! Without overstating it, I think the Pinkies are very priveleged to be sharing the stage with Mr. Glaysher, and you would be a fool to miss this performance - get your tickets now!

Taekwondo, Opera and the Pink Singers

Three things which you aren't likely to put together, but you would be surprised. At yesterday's rehearsal we had a surprise visit from an ex-national taekwondo champion, a chap called Gari Glaysher. The link is that he is also an up and coming operatic tenor and the Pinkies have been asked to perform as the backing chorus for him at his launch concert.

My guess is that his dropping by yesterday was a chance to scope us out in advance of the gig. He sat at the back of the room listening while we basically murdered Italian Salad and tripped over Come What May, so it doesn't surprise me that when it came to the end and he introduced himself, he didn't actually say very much. Instead his (I assume) manager managed to eke out words to the effect of "you are one of the best choirs I have heard in a long time." I know we are quite good, but methinks the man does not hear choirs much!

Anyway, although very few words actually came from Mr. Glaysher, I had already heard his voice by visiting his website and his MySpace page. He is a powerful tenor with a warm timbre which, in my view, leans more toward a Luciano rather than a Placido. And his version of Volare even has elements of Tom Jones - which just goes to show how versatile he is. One thing which I find somehat infuriating is that the song samples are all neapolitain songs or pop-ified pieces - I just think the operatic voice makes the delivery of the songs a little bit too melodramatic. Anyway, I strongly suggest you wander over there and take a listen to Mr. Glaysher, because he really is very good.

The MySpace page also has the obligatory headshot pictures (I've included one here) with him gazing into middle distance, pictures of him in Italy and with his dog. In real life, and possibly because of the great weather we have been having, he is significantly more tanned and has a few tattoos too! Not quite what you expect from an opera singer, but I guess that is the taekwondo speaking!

So, if you are interested in hearing the Pink Singers perform, both as a choir singing Dies Irae from Karl Jenkins' Requiem, and as a chorus backing up Mr. Glaysher, then now is your once chance in a lifetime to hear that one voice in a million.

Gari Glaysher (and the Pink Singers!)
Friday 20th June 2008 / doors open at 19:00 / £10.00 - 20.00

Please note, all indigO2 shows are aged 18+ (unless otherwise stated).
Under 18's must be accompanied by an adult. Photographic ID will be required.
Valid forms of ID: Passport, Driving License or ISIC Card

Kings Row: Please note, no under 18s permitted in Kings Row.
Ticketmaster 0844 844 0002
SEE Tickets 0870 405 0448
Ticketline 0870 444 5556
More information.

Blowout Band Night!

The wait was worth it! I was really looking forward to the Blowout Band Night, cunningly organized by the altos and tenors as a social-slash-fundraiser, not only because it was one of those events where all the Pinkies get together for an evening of singing and drinking (and since we have just a fortnight to go before the concert, heaven knows we need it!), but also because this was a great chance to see four very different bands in action.

It kicked off with Nelson Romeu and the charismatic Jackie belting out several rock numbers. You could not have wished for a more energetic start! Then it was time for a switch of pace and sound with the acoustic Thankyou Driver and Cilla's magical guitar. Everyone knows I am a fan of Paleday, so I am not going to gush too much - but when they came on we took to the dance floor. This was also the debut performance of Eurotramp and If I Lived On The Moon. The night ended with the cabaret stylings of Something Fishy. Eliza Mars and Lara Montage - we love you!

Nelson Romeu


Thankyou Driver


Paleday


Something Fishy


All the bands are linked in the Pinkie Friends listings on the right, so check them out. More pics are available in My Pink Bits too!

Return of the Tiny Tenor

At last our dear friend is returned to us. How the readers of these pages have wept over his long absence. How we have searched high and low*.

By coincidence, earlier on this very day I have phoned Big Momma herself to enquire about whether she had heard any news from the absent blogaholic.

And now mysteriously he is returned to us. Just a few hours after my call.

Is this a coincidence - or an example of the mighty powers Big Momma doth wield?

Welcome back Pink Insider!


*mainly low

Southside story: a Southwark Hunt

Rumour has it that the treasure hunt has been organised primarily to search for a certain missing Pinkie. This prominent Pinkie was last seen perched atop a wobbly chair at the back of the Tenor section during a sunday rehearsal. This writer fears that in his zeal to grab just one more sound and/or video clip to cram into his ever bulging pink bits, the teetering Tenor accidentally fell out through the open window and was carried away by a passing pigeon.

His long absence from these pages can surely have no other explanation?

Pink Insider - where are you?

Beautiful Is Boring?

I went for last orders with Liang last night at our local pub. Unfortunately, I missed the weekend's rehearsal due to familial obligations for Chinese New Year, so he very kindly collected the sheet music for two new songs in this season's repertoire.

The first is a TTBB arrangement of Aquarius for the blokes - had a quick look at it, and it seems the first tenors are in for a bit of a shock having to hit a high C!

The second is an SATB arrangement for the whole choir of Beautiful as originally sung by Christina Aguilera. Not having heard this particular arrangement yet, just looking at the tenor line makes me want to yawn. We seem to have four notes - okay I'm exaggerating a little - but really, as a conceited tenor, I really want to do more than sing backing vocals. And I know several tenors and basses would rather sing lead a la Christina!



That said, I felt the same way about Angels when we first sang it, and now it sounds really great. So what do I know?