Waverley Singers

We had an exciting evening of favourite choruses and arias from the world of Italian, French, English, and even Russian opera.

A lightly edited version of the following article apeared in the Farnham Herald on 16 October, accompanied by an image of the Waverley Singers in 1957 outside 19 Waverley Lane:

Waverley Singers Celebrate Their History with Opera Gala at Farnham Maltings!

At the Farnham Maltings on Sunday, 26 October, at 6pm the Waverley Singers continue their Platinum Jubilee season with a concert of opera choruses and arias. The concert, conducted by Richard Pearce and featuring Nina Bennet, soprano, Robin Bailey, tenor, and the choir’s regular accompanist, Jakob Rothoff, on piano, will recall many elements of the choir’s history.

It is close to 70 years exactly since the Waverley Singers’ first concert under its own name, a fundraiser for St Andrew’s Church in Church House on 24 September 1955. The choir was initially formed of former pupils of Farnham Girls Grammar School, under a young conductor, John Cotterill – himself a former pupil of the Boys’ Grammar School. The name came from the house of one of the members at 19 Waverley Lane in which the initial rehearsals took place.

By December 1958 The Herald was able to publish an article headed: Farnham’s All-Girl Choir Is Looking For Men Now! and before long membership was well over 100. Concerts took place regularly in the Farnham Maltings, starting in 1978, sometimes as part of the Farnham Arts Festival. In November 1994, shortly before The Maltings’ own Silver Jubilee and by now under the baton of Malcolm Hicks, the choir performed Orff’s Carmina Burana in what the Herald reported as a Glorious Musical Salute to 25 Years of The Maltings!

The choir has also performed in three previous Opera Gala concerts: the first in the Prince’s Hall in Aldershot in 1980, then at The Maltings in 2015 and again in 2018. The 2015 concert marked the choir’s Diamond Jubilee, and was graced by the presence of its Founder Secretary, Molly Goddard (née Medhurst).

The programme for this concert will include many well-known favourites. Contrasting emotions will be felt in Verdi’s Triumphal Scene from Aida and his Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves. The choir’s linguistic skills will be tested in the Polovtsian Dances from Borodin’s Prince Igor, sung in Russian, as well as choruses in Italian, French, and Latin! English is represented by Purcell’s poignant Dido’s Lament and final chorus from Dido and Aeneas.

The soloists will also have their moments in the spotlight. Robin Bailey will tug at the heartstrings with Puccini’s Che gelida manina (Your tiny hand is frozen) from La Bohème, while Nina Bennet will perform vocal gymnastics in Verdi’s dramatic Mercè dilette amiche (Thank you beloved friends) from the Sicilian Vespers. Meanwhile Jakob Rothoff’s fingers will be working hard all evening, but he will have to keep something in reserve to play – appropriately enough for the season - Chaminade’s haunting and dramatic piece: Automne.

Over its 70-year history the choir has performed in nearly 300 concerts, many of them also supporting local and national charities. Since proper records began in 2015 the choir has helped raise nearly £24,000, and since the return to full-time singing post-pandemic in October 2021, £12,350. At this concert a retiring collection will be held for Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care. The choir is hoping for a large and generous audience!