RICHARD PARR King's Lynn Corn Exchange

RICHARD PARR

> King's Lynn Corn Exchange

I'm afraid it wasn't 'alright on the night' for this annual seasonal performance by the male songsters.

Unfortunately, things started to go wrong with the first carol, Once in Royal David's City, with the initial non-appearance on stage of guest soloist Diana Lock to sing the first verse.

Things didn't improve when a choral item had to be restarted and this was followed by a musical mix-up with another Christmas item.

All was not completely lost because the choir's selection included some favourites, Joy to the World, Quern Pastores and Silent Night. But the choir's general performance was somewhat lacklustre.

There was, perhaps, a degree of sympathy for the “boys” when it was revealed at the end by apologetic chairman Brian Cave that there had been difficulties during the year and their new pianist, Anne Greeves, had only been with them for five weeks.

But it was the mezzo-soprano voice of the delightful Miss Lock who saved the show, with her selection of solos including Waltz of My Heart from The Dancing Years, Silver Bells and a delightfully amusing alternative version of The Twelve Days of Christmas.

We were in for a surprise at the end of the evening when were invited to sing their favourite carols.

Conductor Marcus Harley not only gave us an amusing musical artistic impression of Good King Wenceslas (singing both man and boy parts) but he also sang, solo, the first verse of The First Nowell.