Côr Meibion Llanelli's 50th anniversary concert revue!

by Robert Lloyd

Côr Meibion Llanelli brought him home – and, boy, what a homecoming it was for West End and Broadway singing star John Owen-Jones.

The Burry Port singing sensation, who has starred in Les Miserables and The Phantom of The Opera, was the special guest at Côr Meibion Llanelli’s 50th anniversary concert at the Selwyn Samuel Centre, Llanelli.

John Owen-Jones wasn’t just the icing on the cake for the choir’s 50th birthday; he was the dazzling candle power that set the evening alight.

His cascade of West End stardust had the audience of 500 at the Selwyn Samuel on their feet for a well-deserved standing ovation.

Singer, showman, entertainer, John Owen-Jones brought it all to Côr Meibion Llanelli’s 48th annual concert.

It was first class, a master-class and world class.

From the opening bars of Kiss of a Spiderwoman, he had the audience tied into his wonderful web of musical magic.

This was the singer’s final Llanelli appearance before a tour of Japan and an important appointment in the recording studio for an eagerly-awaited new CD.

The set included favourites from Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables – even though he teased us all by saying he wouldn’t do Les Mis (as if!).

Music of the Night, the Civil War classic Tell My Father, Love Changes Everything, and This is the moment . . . each one was a showstopper.

And then came Till I hear You Sing from Love Never Dies (the Phantom sequel) and the Anthony Newley classic What kind of fool am I?

To close, he made everyone’s wish come true with a medley of Suddenly (from the film version of Les Mis) and Bring Him Home.

It was stunning stuff – worthy of a true local hero making a conquering return to his homeland.

Côr Meibion Llanelli were happy to play the supporting role for the evening, but they had their stand-out moments with a West Side Story medley, Stars (featuring choir founder member Byron Thomas), Mona Lisa (soloist Anthony Bowen), Speak Softly Love, Moon River, American Trilogy and Morte Criste.

Adding to a gift-wrapped package of 50th birthday treats for the evening were the members of Burry Port Town Band.

Their set included many rousing, emotional and inspirational moments, featuring 633 Squadron, Ar Hyd Y Nos, Men of Harlech, Enter The Galaxies, Salute to Sinatra, Ar Lan Y Mor and Procession to the Minster.

Côr Meibion Llanelli were under the baton of musical director Eifion Thomas, with Rhiannon Williams-Hale as accompanist.

Burry Port Town Band were under the leadership of musical director Michael Thorne.

Celebrated pianist Caradog Williams provided the accompaniment for John Owen Jones.

The compere for the evening was Robert Lloyd.