VERDI REQUIEM – SATURDAY 1ST NOVEMBER -MALVERN THEATRE

The High Sheriff attended a performance of Verdi’s Requiem conducted by Sir Richard Mynors and performed by The Bromyard and The Ledbury Choral Societies.  The soloists were Gillian Rae-Walker, soprano, Louise Crane, mezzo-soprano , Ed Harrisson, tenor and Roger Langford, bass.  The performance started with a minutes silence introduced by the High Sheriff who talked of the history leading up to this period of warvone hundred years ago and reminded the audience that on the 31st October 1914 the 2nd Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment recaptured Ghelevult, in Field Marshal French’s opinion one of the pivotal actions of the first battle of Ypres.  Whilst on the 1st November one hundred years previously at the Battle of Coronel off the coast of Chile Britain suffered its first naval defeat of the war with the sinking of two British Cruisers with the loss of all hands one of which was HMS Monmouth.

This sensational performance raised funds for the Royal British Legion and Help for Heroes.  It is a huge tribute that two Herefordshire market towns could put together a choir of around 250 who could perform with such enthusiasm and quality.