SATURDAY night’s concert in York Minster was a true celebration of cycling, singing and Yorkshire.
At the centre were choirs from all around Yorkshire: Aysgarth, Burley, Richmond, Ilkley, Shipley, Skipton, Harrogate, Huddersfield, The Aire Valley, Sheffield, Leeds and York were all represented, plus the smiling faces of children from around the area.
The event kicked off with vivacious composer Alexander L’Estrange leading the huge crowd in a sing-along of highlights from Zimbe!, one of his most popular choral extravaganzas. Everyone let their hair down, much to the joy of the evening’s compère, BBC Radio York presenter Elly Fiorentini.
After the interval, Elly introduced the centrepiece of the programme, L’Estrange’s Song Cycle: Vive la Vélorution!, a huge work commissioned by the Chapter House Choir and York Minster (with a whole host of charitable and corporate support).
The choirs joined forces under the meticulous direction of Stephen Williams with support from the Call Me Al Quintet, the composer’s energetic jazz band, as the piece moved from the initial stages of the bicycle, through its early adopters, to its controversies and joys, including re-imaginings of Daisy Daisy and Scarborough Fair.
From the heartfelt to the hilarious, each of the assembled choirs had their moment to shine, with highlights including the assembled children for Fine And Dandy and the men taking the fore in The Men Who Ride For Fun.
Congratulations must go to the Chapter House Choir for this ambitious commission and welcoming Le Grand Départ with singing and smiles.
- Martin Scheuregger
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