Monday, July 27, 2015

Exeter, UK Concert




Tonight was Libera's 1st summer concert, and it was held at the Exeter Cathedral in Exeter, UK! The boys are on a choir tour with 2 stops in southwest England, and then they are off for a concert in Osaka, Japan!

Beautiful lights! ~ pic by Luke Avery

Libera rehearsing before the concert ~ pic by Libera

Pic by Dani

Pic by Dani

Tom rehearsing solo for "O For the Wings of a Dove" ~ Pic by Dani


There were 29 boys listed, but apparently Taichi rehearsed earlier but did not sing in the concert. Hope he is OK. It's great to see that Kavana is back in the singing line-up! 

The song list is full of awesome Libera favorites plus a new song, "Nearer My God to Thee." We sing that hymn here in the US, but I'm not sure if it's the same tune as the one we know.

There were also speeches by Tadgh, Ben, Ciaran, Alessandro, Alex G, and Cassius, and 2 standing ovations at the end!

Choristers -

1.   Marc Alvares
2.   Shay Balsekar
3.   Leo Barron
4.   Ciaran Bradbury-Hickey
5.   Merlin Brouwer
6.   Benedict Bywater
7.   Gabriel Collins
8.   Kavana Crossley
9.   Thomas Delgado-Little
10. Tadhg Fitzgerald
11. Alex Gula
12. Adam Izghouti
13. Matthew Jansen
14. Timothy Lee
15. Isaac London
16. Matthew Madine
17. Alessandro MacKinnon-Botti
18. James Menezes
19. Michael Menezes
20. Alex Montoro
21. Oliver Mycka
22. Cassius O'Connell-White
23. Taichi Shinokubo
24. Camden Stewart
25. Rocco Tesei
26. Mark Ustynovych-Repa
27. Joseph Walshe
28. Sam Wiggin
29. Lucas Wood 

Musical Director - Robert Prizeman
Assistant Musical Directors - Steven Geraghty & Sam Coates

Violins - Carina Vince, Rowan Patterson
Viola - Andrew Gillett
Cello - Hilary Boxer
Double Bass - Patrick Butterly
Percussion - Jon Fairey
Flute/Recorder - Lucille Burns
Clarinet - Paul Sanders
Oboe - Jesse Bescoby
Horn - Raoul Neumann
Piano/Keyboards - Josh Madine

Sound Production - Sam Coates
Stage Direction - Steven Geraghty
Stage Management - Jonathan Barrington &  Kavana Crossley
Lighting - Luke Avery
Libera Co-ordination & Chaperones - Barbara Geraghty & Eleanor Lewis
Production Co-ordination - Andrew Winter

Song List - 

1.   Joyful, Joyful
2.   Sanctus - descant Merlin
3.   Amazing Grace
4.   Voca Me- high parts by Alex M standing in the balcony above
5.   The Prayer
6.   Sacris Solemnis - solo Isaac with Alex M. & Lucas
7.   Lullaby - solo Camden
8.   Song of Life
9.   Salva Me - high parts by Alex M standing in the balcony above
10. Danny Boy - a Capella, solo Isaac
11. Exultate

- Interval -

12. Mysterium - solo Alessandro
13. Orinoco Flow
14. How Great Thou Art - solo Alessandro
15. Dreaming of Home
16. O For the Wings of a Dove - solo Tom
17. Wayfaring Stranger - solo Alessandro
18. Stay With Me - solo Merlin with Lucas
19. Nearer My God to Thee - new song sung a Capella! solo Isaac and Alessandro with Alex M, Camden and Sam
20. How Shall I Sing That Majesty - solo Lucas

Encore - Wonderful World 

Libera during the Exeter concert ~ photo by Libera

Song list ~ photo by Dani

Chorister and staff list ~ photo by Dani

Exeter and Christchurch concert posters ~ photo by Libera


Dani wrote a review of the concert that she said we could share - 

"The concert was simply amazing , a lot of the boys are on top form and it showed . Stand out performances for me was Danny Boy , Mysterium and Sacris Solemnis ( it was great to have these two back on a set list )

Alessandro did the solo for Mysterium , How Great Thou Art and Wayfaring but Lucas did both of the solos for How Shall I Sing That majesty . Alex M is now doing the high parts on Salva and Voca Me.

Merlin did the solo part for Stay With Me and he was really composed for such a young child and he did it wonderfully . Lucas I think did the high notes on this but he was the other side of the stage of me so I am not 100% sure .

A new song which I have not heard Libera perform before was "Nearer My God To Thee" which was not on the set list . Neither was Danny Boy or Lullaby which was also performed. A wonderful world was the encore.

So some small little tit bits :)

ETA - Voca and Salva the high parts were done from the balcony above us"


Thank you, Dani! Tomorrow Libera has a concert in Christchurch, UK. Stay tuned for more! :D