ARTHUR BROCKLEBANK enjoyed a varied concert of vocal music from the Voiceworks ensemble.

WHAT A FINE idea Colin Lewis had to form Voiceworks several years ago to provide opportunities for local leading singers in the Highlands to perform in public other than in choral or other musical societies where solo work opportunities were limited.

Hardly a week passed in this reviewer’s professional working life my receiving telephone calls for help in not only finding competent singing teachers in this area, but also to suggest outlets for those who had been having training, and finding myself, in both cases, having to disappoint so many young hopefuls.

Now things are very different, as was very evident at Strathpeffer Spa Pavilion, when the place was full to welcome this large group of singers under the Voiceworks banner to entertain and to enjoy themselves in the great art of singing. Songs were drawn from the standard repertoire, operetta, and show biz.

We heard delightful solos, duets, trios and ensembles from many talented voices, all of whom performed under their group name accompanied on piano by Mairi Mackenzie and Richard Lewis. The standard of the singing was variable, ranging from some who gave beautifully sensitive, musical, and accomplished performances, to others who are still learning their art and the business of controlling their voices and their body language on the stage.

The music chosen for this half of the concert had a broad range and suited all tastes – Palestrina, sung beautifully by all the ladies, Schubert, Cole Porter, Britten, Verdi, Mascagni, Gounod, and others.

One feature was most welcome overall, however, and that was that the whole presentation was hugely entertaining and enjoyable. Perhaps, especially in the Pavilion, the between-performance announcements could have been better spoken from the stage rather then at floor level. My enquiries at the interval confirmed assorted levels of audibility and frustration.

What terrific fun the company must have had in putting this production together, all of which came across to the large audience, to their complete delight.

It was performed with a small, but wholly adequate orchestra, under the direction of Richard Lewis, son of the brains and the musical maestro behind this whole set-up, the aforesaid Colin Lewis. The guest “Judge” here, happily prepared to be compromised, was Nicholas Nicol.

What terrific fun the company must have had in putting this production together, all of which came across to the large audience, to their complete delight.

Future (and very welcome) plans by this group may involve the regular presentation of “short music theatre-pieces that are suitable for performance by a medium-sized ensemble.”

Future performances by Voiceworks, as entertaining as this, will be eagerly awaited.

© Arthur Brocklebank, 2005