Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir, Y Tri Tenor (The Three Welsh Tenors), Côr Ysgol Iau Llangennech Junior School Choir. Côr Meibion Llanelli’s annual summer concert at the Selwyn Samuel Centre, Llanelli.

You name it and Côr Meibion Llanelli’s annual summer concert had it.

• Confirmation of Côr Meibion Llanelli’s status as one of our finest male voice choirs.
• Appreciation of the dazzling young talent we have in Llanelli in the shape of the Ysgol Iau Llangennech junior school choir.
• Admiration for three of the finest tenors in Wales in the shape of Rhys Meirion, Aled Hall and Aled Wyn Davies.

It was a show with something for everyone – and, above all, it reflected the fact that the passion and enthusiasm for singing in Wales is in very safe hands.

Côr Meibion Llanelli’s choristers were happy to play second fiddle to their guests on an occasion when there was lovely summer garden party feel to proceedings at the Selwyn Samuel Centre.

Ysgol Iau Llangennech had won the crowd over before taking the stage.

The school choir recently won the junior school choir category in the BBC Songs of Praises competition and their list of future engagements includes a visit to the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Under the direction of Lewis Richards, the choir’s first-half repertoire consisted of Cân yr Elfennau, Hwiangerdd Mair (Mary’s Lullaby) and Y Byd Yn Un (the rugby World in Union anthem).

After the interval, there was a departure into World Music, with energetic and thoroughly entertaining performances of Tshotsholoza, the famous Xhosa (Zulu) work-song and Niška Banja, a folk song from Serbia.

Yes, Côr Ysgol Iau, believe in taking their audiences to plenty of new places!

The choir’s accompanist was Miss Awena Owen.

The Three Welsh Tenors line-up has changed since the trio last performed in Llanelli, with Eisteddfod Blue Riband winner Aled Wyn Davies joining the ranks.

The new line-up remains as effective as ever – displaying their vocal talents to the full with Cwm Rhondda, Myfanwy, Gwahoddiad, Robat Arwyn’s Ave Maria and Simon and Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water.

Humour plays a great part with the Three Welsh Tenors and their stage presence and comedy skills came to the fore when they took to the stage in ‘hi-vis’ work vests to perform as the ‘Council Choir’. The song? Busy Doing Nothing. It was a hoot!

With the excellent Jeff Howard on piano, the tenors also served up an operatic medley which included the crowd-pleasing Nessun Dorma.

Their ‘official set list’ finished with Gwinllan a roddwyd i’m Gofal, a piece written by former Ysgol y Strade pupil Caradog Williams.

Côr Meibion Llanelli had their work cut-out keeping up with the tenors and the youngsters from Llangennech, but they were up to the task.

Under the direction of Eifion Thomas and accompanied by Aled Maddock, the choir started with a real blast with Verdi’s Rejoice Then!, Mozart’s O Isis Und Osiris and Wagner’s Pilgrim’s Chorus.

Penrhyn Gwyr (an adaptation of a Maori song) featured Eifion Thomas as soloist and was followed by Anfonaf Angel (soloist Anthony Bowen), Safwn yn y Bwlch (soloist Byron Thomas) and Llanfair.

The choir’s Showtime Medley featured Ken Collins as soloist before the choristers were joined by the three tenors for an arrangement of the Bach/Gounod Ave Maria.

Moon River and Wade in the Water were showcased as a preview of the choir’s soon-to-be-released CD album, called Angel.

To close, both choirs and the tenors filled the stage for a stirring You’ll Never Walk Alone, which was dedicated to choir member Howard Waters, who passed away on the morning of the concert.

The compere for the evening was Hywel Gwynfryn, the former TV and radio presenter who wrote the lyrics for Anfonaf Angel.

It was all stirring stuff – and further evidence that Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir are still going strong after 51 years!

ROBERT LLOYD