Music and Musings splendid in medieval church

The night outside was bitterly cold, but the welcome was warm and the wine helped set the humour at last night's 'Music & Musings for Christmas' in St Mary's Church, Castlemartin, writes Brian Byrne.

The performances were an eclectic mix. The Legato Singers, directed by Phionagh Gibson who has many CPC musical productions under her belt, were as smooth and musically coherent as the meaning of the name they chose for themselves. Dorly and Rachel O'Sullivan, with Gese Mucke, provided a range of chamber music suited to the season, and Danny Carthy of Fiddlers Green brought us passionately through a musical history of folk.

Soprano Orla Colleton, a former pupil of CPC and now a professional singer and singing teacher, virtually lifted the rafters of the restored 16th century church in the grounds of Sir Anthony and Lady O'Reilly's Irish home, with offerings from Gilbert & Sullivan and Puccini. Christmas carols from all present, accompanied by Monica Martin, concluded the music of the evening, which was in aid of Maintain Hope.

Between the songs there were stories from Charlie Talbot, Mae Leonard, your editor and John Martin, who also did MC. Mute but vibrant, Dave Clancy's floral arrangements added colour and seasonality to the ambience.

If you weren't there, you missed a quite unique occasion.


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