National Choir’s angelic voices ring in Christmas |23 December 2016
Christmas without choirs and carols is just not Christmas and those who didn’t make it missed out on hearing a superb end of year concert that was conducted with excellence and would even make the angels in heaven proud.
MC and National Choir members Juliette Dine and Julien Alexis welcomed the audience consisting of VIPs, friends of the National Choir and family.
In his speech Mr Julius from the Ministry of Culture was full of appreciation and praise for the choir, its high level of expertise and Mrs Lownam’s never ending dedication to conduct a truly professional choir of the highest standard.
He spoke well and also pointed out the need for culture to know its musical classics.
Before the concert started, the crowd at the Mont Fleuri SITE auditorium witnessed the kind presentations of gifts (classical music CDs) sponsored by the Maltese embassy and the Ambassador of Malta Mrs Alexandra Azais (a dedicated artist herself) was given the honour to present the gifts to the ABRSM distinction students in practical singing exam 2016: Aaron Jean (Grade 1), Li Xinwei (Grade 1), Georgia Ernesta (Grade 1), Mary Xu (Grade 3) and Jade du Preez (Grade 3).
The next set of presentations showed gratitude through awards to a retired member of the National Choir, the singing student’s theory teacher Mr Francois Victor, just like Mrs Lownam an extremely dedicated music teacher. Even two committed parents who are always ready to lend a helping hand and also the best volunteer were honoured. All accepted the gift with appreciation.
‘Joy to the World’ was the cheerful perfect start to the musical performance. For this song the National Choir invited some members of the Confucius choir to join. National Choir’s Soprano Christina Alexis and Mary Xu showed off their lovely high voices. Christina’s unique high voice took the lead similarly during the French traditional carol ‘Ça Bergers, Assemblons Nous’ with Wayne Morel and solo during ‘Love Is A Plaintive Song’ and again as a duet in ‘The Prayer’.
We heard many wonderful carols performed by the National Choir like ‘Deck the Hall’, ‘Ding Dong Merrily On High’ based on a 16th century French melody and ‘Silent Night’. During the carols part, the first of Mrs Lownam’s voice student and the youngest choir member, Jade du Preez, sang the verses to ‘Like Candle Flame’ while the choir joining in for the chorus, wonderfully performed with much charisma.
After a Chinese Folk song ‘Molihua’ again in conjunction with the Confucius Institute Choir, the National Choir performed ‘Nasyon Seselwa’, a traditional song newly arranged for choir by their conductor Xiaoju Lownam. As a matter of interest, the National Choir has a whole CD out with newly arranged material of the National choir by Mrs Lownam, full of local content.
During the solo-vocal students performance a young man stole the show, Aaron Jean left his best Pavarotti impression on the floor. Displaying almost a cheeky smile he filled the room with a convincingly loud and powerful ‘Santa Lucia’. He shone like a rough diamond. With more training and refinement, he will be one of Seychelles’ artists to look out for. You could see he truly enjoyed his performance, radiating confidence, leaving everybody gaping.
Li Xinwei performed Schuhmann’s ‘Butterfly’ somewhat shyly, no need to as she has a lovely voice. Sopramo Mary Xu was more confident and Peter performed well a Leonard Bernstein composition.
The audience was charmed by the beautiful songs chosen by the conductor and flawlessly performed by her choir such as ‘Scarborough Fair’, a song made famous by Simon and Garfunkel. The grand finale of course had to be another Christmas song. ‘We Wish You A merry Christmas & Happy New Year!’ performed with a twist!
Mrs Lownam the conductor and the National Choir were loudly applauded and once more Mrs Lownam excelled in making the National Choir worthy of its name, a choir that can make Seychelles proud anywhere in the world.
Reviewed by Irene du Preez