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| Mebion Prysor Choir |
I have just got back home from a really fantastic evening. It has been such a busy weekend that earlier today I wasn't sure whether to go to the concert in Somero tonight, but I am SO glad that I made the decision to go, as the choir who visited us from Wales were really superb. It's a concert I will remember for a long time, and I am sure that many others who were there must have felt the same.
The concert was the second leg of an exchange between choirs from Finland and Wales which came about as the result of a meeting between Phil Moster, a member of the Welsh choir and Kaija and Olli from Somero who had the idea of mutual visits several years ago.
I have always loved choral music, and of course the Welsh have a rich tradition of choral singing and are some of the best singers in the world, so sitting in Somero this evening was like being transported to another place. (Luca, 4) who came with me, was even rocked to sleep at one stage as the choir sang the Celtic version of "You Raised me Up". They then went on to sing Take me Home, Sunset Poem, The Wondrous Cross and the Celtic Anthem which clearly resonated deeply with every member of the choir.
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| The two choirs sing together |
The choir was founded in 1966 and they have made many trips abroad thus far including to France, the USA, Belgium, Canada and Ireland, and tonight we were lucky enough to have them visiting us here in Somero. Music, like sport, is something that is able to cross nationalities and boundries, and we were entertained this evening with songs sung in Finnish, English, Celtic and Latin.
The choir from Wales was joined by our own Somero Male Voice Choir who opened the concert, and then the two choirs combined into one for the finale in which they sang Finlandia followed by Goodnight Ladies, conducted by Olli Salonmäenpää and Iwan Morgan and accompanied by the multi-talented Iona Mair. There were several solo performances suring the evening, including a one on piano of two pieces by Sibelius by Maija Parko which received rapturous applause.
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| Iwan Morgan and Iona Mair |
The hall was almost full tonight, but I still wish more people in Somero had had a chance to hear the singing because it was so moving. Still, you have one chance left! The choir is spending the next three days in Finland before going home on Thursday and they will be singing in Forssa church on Tuesday evening - so if you are able to get there, take this opportunity and go and hear them sing!
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| Olli being presented by a plaque from Wales |
Thank you to all the members of the Meibon Prysor Choir for making the huge effort to come to Somero, those of us who were there will not forget you, and we hope very much that some day you come back to visit us again.
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| The two choirmasters celebrate the evening |
