My solo in the first half of the program.
The Les Mis, Spectacular was a Tideswell Male Voice Choir event at Gasworth Hall in Macclesfield. I was joined by several vocalist friends, and of course the marvellous male voice choir who had all perfected their choreography which engaged and entertained the audience throughout the show. Guests began to arrive from 2pm in the afternoon, I was surprised when they started pulling out gazebos, picnics including wine, one group even had a candelabra for the half time break! My family thought they were organised with an all-in-one box picnic table and benches, card/board games and some sandwiches. For the car enthusiasts amongst you the car in the photo below was a vintage Bugatti. Fortunately the rain held off even though there were dark grey clouds looming.
My favourite choir choreography was the opening piece ‘Look Down’ in the Les Mis’ section, which is a must see if you can make it to Stockport in Cheshire this October 5th, the Buxton Opera House on the 6th is already sold out. It was great fun to do some large ensemble pieces such as ‘One Voice’ which opened the show and ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ from Carousel with the whole cast. In the songbook I have the words are ‘keep your chin up high’ but I realised during the rehearsal that the choir use ‘hold your head up high’ so I nearly laughed whilst singing when my Mum, who’d bagged a front row seat, lifted her head up in her hands in the audience to remind me during the performance.
The concert started at 18:30 with a charming introduction and safety drill from the Gawsworth Hall host, Mr Tim Richards, we walked out to applause from the audience which feels great. I wore my silver sparkle dress for the occasion and first half. I sang a duet with Erin Alexander ‘For Good’ from Wicked, we’d had a run through at Erin’s and once more on the day it went really well and it was great to do some dramatised duet work. I was grateful to be given a solo slot and Dennis asked me to sing ‘O Mio Babbino Caro’ which I love.
In the second half I had been asked to sing Eponine’s role in the Les Miserable Spectacular, I performed ‘A Little Fall of Rain’ with Matthew who played Marius and Thernandier, it was indeed a fabulous show, which the audience enjoyed by foot stamping along in the finale and it was very rewarding to have a standing ovation when we finished with ‘Do You Hear the People Sing’ and ‘One Day More’.
The lighting organised by Martin, the sound managed by Kevin and the stage management by Steve were magnificent and they were a great trio of talent to work with.
Christopher Ellis was brilliant on piano, as always, and his piano solo was fabulous, although Dennis had forgotten his reading glasses and swapped my slot with Chris’ piano solo, which was hilarious for my family who all watched me taking the introductory praise for Chris until it dawned on me that he didn’t mean me and I turned back and sat back down looking like I was over-keen to sing! That gave them a proper good chuckle.
Dress + Singing = Charlotte Hoather!
I love your comment :). I love fashion and textiles. I like to buy outfits in pieces so I can mix and match, my friends at college say they would never put some of the items together lol! But I feel they work and wear them with confidence.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Charlotte,
Your performance of Eponine’s song seems to have moved many of those seated behind you the picture. I’m sure it was beautiful.
I sang at the end of ‘A Hearful of Love’, ‘On My Own’ and ‘A Little Fall of Rain’ all beautiful songs but so very sad, unrequited love and then poor Eponine dies, I must remember to drop my arm when poor Eponine dies and trust Matthew Mellor not to drop me.
My family said it was very moving.
Thank you for your message,
Charlotte
I wish I could’ve heard this! Looks so wonderful!
The whole show was very fast paced and wonderfully put together by the Musical Director Dennis Kay and Christopher Ellis who Dennis calls his right hand man and left hand 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
I keep telling myself that one of these days I’m going to see that musical (or at least read the whole book)… I’m sure you did a fantastic job! 🙂
Oh, and that vintage car? I’m pretty sure I drooled a little.
It is a fabulous story Stephanie of people in despair and the lengths they will go to in order to survive. I first saw Les Mis’ when I took part as young Corsette in the High School production in 2003, three of us were chosen from Primary Schools to play the role one night each, I fell in love with the story there and then.
I saw it on stage in London with the fabulous Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean, and Matt Lucas as Thernandier. I also watched the film recently which was excellent I can recommend it :).
Best wishes
Charlotte
Ps the car certainly turned heads.
I read some excerpts in middle school, so I am relatively familiar with the story; I just haven’t seen the musical. If I ever get the chance to see it live (or at least see the movie) I am definitely going to.
I never got around to reading the book, I find it hard to make the time to read full novels, perhaps I should make some time to read the Eponine extracts to help with the performance before October.
Charlotte
You look like a beautiful, confident, professional. I wish I could have seen and heard you and the others.
Thank you very much Manelli, I just love performing and I hope that comes across. I wish you could have been there too the atmosphere in the open air setting was incredible.
All the best
Charlotte
Sounds like a very moving performance… with audience participation in foot stamping and a standing ovation. The song ‘Do you hear the people sing’ never fails to arouse emotions. Congrats and wish I were there. 😉
I wish you could have been there too Arti, I’ve never sung outside before in an open theatre, in the daylight you could see the full audience and as it went dark and all of the lights sparkled in the trees it just added to the performance.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Les Mis, what an amazing musical. You look amazing in your silver sparkly dress too and from what I have heard of you singing while I paint, you would have been amazing to listen to in that beautiful setting. Thank you for sharing, you have a talent for writing as well. Congratulations. Lisa
Thanks Lisa, I appreciate your lovely compliment. I love my silver sparkly dress, in fact I just love sparkles, I had a bedazzler for Christmas one year but I’m sure my Mum hid it because I used to stick the gems on everything.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Beautiful! Thank you for helping to grind down my mountain of musical ignorance.
You’re welcome along on my musical adventure with me Peter :).
Best wishes
Charlotte
Reblogged this on mariarusso75.
Thanks for the reblog I appreciate it. I get lovely new visitors from recommendations.
All the best
Charlotte
Glad it went well. I am just doing some icing sheet music for my Mum’s birthday cake and one of them is ‘O Mio Babbino Caro’! She used to sing it when I was young and she loves opera, On the other music decoration I have put the lighter piece ‘Vilja’ from The Merry Widow as I loved her singing rthat (I could understand the language so it helped!).
Oh how fabulous Helen, I’ve just been singing Vilja to myself, thank you for reminding me of this lovely song, my friend Sophie used to sing it in festivals. How do you put the music score on the icing I’m fascinated.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Wish I was there, I know you would have sounded just as fabulous as you looked!!
Thank you Stephen that’s nice of you to say so.
All the best
Charlotte
Hi Stephen,
I tried to leave a post on your website as follows:
Do you make Christmas tree decorations in wood? If you do you should put a blog post to remind people Christmas is just around the corner, my Mum collects one new Tree decoration each year.
Charlotte
Ps It’s hard to post a comment now just using your wordpress account on your site it threw me out twice?
Oh thanks Charlotte, will have a look in the morning!
Wish I could have seen this performance and heard your singing. I big Les Mis fan, not only of the musical version but also of course the novel. Just saw the performance in Winnipeg last month and as always was emotional. To be on stage singing ‘Do you hear the people Sing’ is incredible to hear but to be on stage I can’t imagine how great a feeling that would be. Congrats.
Thank you James, is Winnipeg Canada?
I always get emotional watching Les Mis’ another good emotional musical theatre show is ‘Ghost’. A particular favourite of our family is Phantom of the Opera and the follow up Love Never Dies.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Hi Charlotte, I was blown away on Sunday, the performance was superb. I have seen Les Mis’ on stage and watched the film and this performance was every bit as good. Your were wonderful as ever and moved me to tears. Can’t wait for your next performance at the Plaza theatre in Stockport. xx
Hi Gilly, I’m really glad you enjoyed the event and that we encapsulated the Les Mis’ experience for you in this show.
Bless you for your continued support.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
You sang a piece for a Les Miserables performance. If only you could post the video! I’m somewhat familiar with the story, though, because I saw the movie a while back when I was in high school. Many of the finer details escape me.
However, there’s Les Miserables, and then there’s this. The video is in French, but trust me, it will be VERY clear what’s going on.
Hi Rawle, The video didn’t come up on my iPhone, but I watched it on my brother’s pc, although neither of us speak French it was easy to understand it was a video game that someone spent a long time preparing to put on You Tube. How did you come across it?
Charlotte
I don’t remember how I came across the game itself, though I do have the download link for it.
Where can I hear your performance??!!
I’ll try to post some songs after the Les Mis’ concert run finishes in October I don’t want to spoil it for anyone that is going to watch the live shows.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thanks. Good Luck. Stay Sweet.
how proud your parents must be. What an exciting story you are living.
Hello Bill, I know they’re proud of me and I strive hard to continue to make them proud of me because I am very grateful for everything they do to support me.
All the best to you, good health,
Charlotte
I take congratulations are in order. Beautuful captures! 🙂
X
Thank you 🙂
Charlotte
Looks and sounds like it was a wonderful event! That close-up photo of you (the first one in this post) is a really nice one. I really got a chuckle out of your faux pas at the end, but it does sound like you rallied from it and are good at laughing at yourself, things we could all learn to do better!
Thanks Becky, my family refuse to let me take myself too seriously :). I didn’t mention one of the guys in the choir had his foot on my train so I nearly fell over on the way back to my chair.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Absolutely love your dress! Your voice is lovely!
First of all, thanks for visiting and following my blog. It gave me a chance to be introduced to yours. I’m enjoying reading yours.Beautiful pictures. I can just hear the music and it sounds wonderful. New follower….
Hi Lonnie, thanks for visiting my blog and leaving your lovely comments, ps if the prom teen has finished with that beautiful turquoise dress I could make a good home for it, he he, 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
I abolutely adore Les Mis 🙂 and thanks so much for following my blog! 🙂
You’re welcome Simple Smiles is lovely 😉
Best wishes
Charlotte
I need Your guidance for making a Coir: for “To God Be the Glory” 4 bbbb Which is in Key of A But for the treble clef it(Black note) begins from “C” that’s Why I have Doubt. then “Softly and Tenderly” also having 4 bbbb’s but it(Black note) begins from “E” Please Help Me!
Gorgeous silver gown!
Thanks for giving a link on the right so we can hear your beautiful voice 🙂 I wish u could’ve done one for les miz too but we’ll just haft a wait for your album 😉
Your dress is spectacular!!! love it
You are very talented….
Thank you ;). Thanks for visiting
Thank you Pankaj for your lovely comments.
Best wishes
Charlotte