In a full to capacity Tabernacle Chapel, Pembroke, on Saturday, September 4, the Pembroke and District Male Voice Choir and their guest artistes 'The Three Welsh Tenors' and violinist Lucy Evans, each in their turn received standing ovations from an enthralled and appreciative audience. It was indeed a night to remember when music of the highest quality set the tone for the week ahead for the second of the annual Pembroke Festivals. The Male Voice Choir under their conductor David Gwynn, accompanied by Chris Lloyd, assisted by Alyson Griffiths and Jenny Griffiths, sang in a 12-piece programme consisting of items from musicals, Welsh airs, and established choral work. The Welsh item 'Sarah' featured a solo from Owen Jones, bass, while Frank Harries, choir chairman, rendered a tenor contribution in 'Nothing Like a Dame'. A finale piece of 'Morte Criste' saw choristers from other choirs invited to join from the audience to sing. The concert was of such a high quality because in addition to the male voice contribution there were guest artistes of high quality and superb performance. First featured was Lucy Evans, a local talented violinist, who is at present studying in her first year at A Levels at Pembroke School. She hails from Rosemarket and is leader of the school orchestra and a member of the County Youth Orchestra and the Three Counties Orchestra. Accompanied by Mrs. Rosemary Richards, of Pembroke, she delighted the audience with the purity and quality of her playing. During the evening, when she gave two recitals, the pieces she presented were 'Chanson de Matin' by Elgar, 'Hungarian Dance' by Brahms and 'Meditation' by Massenet, each of which transfixed the listeners. Secondly, the audience listened spellbound to 'The Three Welsh Tenors', who have appeared on 'Noson Llawen' on S4C and are each one National and International Eisteddfodau prizewinners. This talented trio are Crwys Evans and his son Robyn Lyn Evans from Pontrhyd y Groes and John Davies from Llandybie, and they like Lucy before them performed in both the first and second sessions of the concert. The standing ovation they received at the end of their presentations and the overwhelming comments of admiration and praise from the audience after the concert and indeed in the area since are ample proof of the impression they made and the rare moment in the festival their appearance established. They were accompanied throughout by Gareth Wyn Thomas and in their first session sang in all nine pieces. Among the items covered were 'O na byddai'n haf o hyd', 'Love me Tender', 'Ti a dy ddonia', 'Take a pair of Sparkling Eyes' and 'Gwlad y Delyn'. Each in their turn brought rapturous applause. In their second session, they sang a further eight pieces, mingling at one point humour in their presentation in a mock competition with each other. They sang 'Brindisi' from 'La Traviata' by Verdi, 'Santa Lucia', 'O Sole Mio', 'Because', and each in turn gave a solo recital with John singing 'The Rodolfo aria' by Verdi. Robyn 'Quanto bella' from Donizetti's 'L'elisir d'amore' and Crwys 'Vainnement' from 'L'roy Dys' by Lalo. It was indeed a recital to savour. The proceeds of the concert, which in this case totalled £1,000, was presented to Mrs. Jackie Broadhurst on behalf of the Children's Ward, Withybush Hospital. Mrs Broadhurst thanked all those concerned with the concert and expressed the appreciation of the medical staff. During the interval another presentation was made to Phil Thompson, the choir president, who only the day before had got married and had delayed his honeymoon to attend the concert. He and his new wife Christine received from Frank Harries, choir chairman, a framed group of three watercolours featuring aspects of St. Florence, a village with which both have close affiliations.The pictures were painted by chorister George Lewis. Phil Lloyd, choir secretary, who had compered the evening in his own inimitable style, catalogued the support and encouragement that Phil Thompson had, and is still, giving to the community as a representative of Texaco. He and Christine were congratulated on their wedding and were wished many years of happiness from choristers both past and present. The concert closed with a blessing from the Rev. Russell Good, minister of the chapel, and the singing of 'Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau'.
