Colla Voce

@ Huntingdon Hall, Worcester, 28/3/03

Colla Voce are a Worcester based singing group, specialising in songs from film and theatre, who've had some rave reviews from around the country. Tonight, fourteen singers took to the stage; some new faces alongside the longer serving members. Stretching in a gentle arc from stage left to stage right, eight 'girls', six 'guys', fourteen different voices singing as one.

Taking full advantage of the natural acoustics of the hall and clever use of its PA system for solos, Colla Voce were quite remarkable tonight. The fifty minutes or so set had just about everything with something for most tastes.

Starting out with some panache with 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' from The Wizard Of Oz they carefully picked their choral ways through the girls' stunningly good 'Cell Block Tango' from Chicago, an earthy, elvish and extremely tricky 'Lament For Gandalf' from Lord Of The Rings, 'Get Happy' from Summer Stock and a twelve minute medley from Jesus Christ Superstar. With duets of 'One Hand One Heart' from West Side Story and the complex and hauntingly beautiful, 'Flower Duet' from Lakme plus solos of 'Stars' from Les Miserables and Sarah Mclachin's 'Angel' the mix was perfect. Superbly accompanied by David Staiger on piano this was a set to cherish having just enough theatrics with some clever introductions and subtle 'body language'.

After a rapturous ovation from the two hundred or so in the audience they returned for, "A quiet One" with a beautiful 'Sabbath Prayer' from Fiddler On The Roof. Personally, I would have prefered to see them finish with more of a 'bang' but that's a minor personal criticism.

Colla Voce, on this form, would grace ANY London stage and more!

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