THE beautiful Plough Chapel, Brecon, was the venue for a joint concert of Cor Meibion Talgarth (CMT) and Choeur d’Hommes de Brignac, at the end of September.
This was the first exchange with a French choir and many members of the latter, and their supporters, had never visited Wales or the UK before. They were very impressed with both the area and the chapel.
Under music director Paul Sweeting and accompanist Val Whiston, CMT sang eight songs in Welsh and English, including ‘Ar Hyd y Nos’, ‘Nant y Mynydd’, ‘Jacob’s Ladder’ and ‘With Cat Like Tread’.
The French choir, directed by Jeanne-Marie Chauvin, also sang eight songs from their repertoire in French, Spanish, Russian and their own local dialect. Both choirs joined together to sing ‘Calon Lan’,
‘La Marseillaise’ and ‘Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau’. The soloists were Suzanne Williams (soprano) and Mal Watkins (baritone.)
The concert was very well attended and over £800 profit was realised. This is being shared equally between Eisteddfod yr Urdd and the Hay, Brecon & Talgarth Sanctuary for Refugees. A very friendly ‘After Glow’ was held in the Castle Hotel, Brecon, with much additional singing of each choir’s more casual songs. CMT is now planning an exchange visit to Brignac in 1919, which will be the 50th anniversary of our founding.