Review: George Walker Last Night of the Proms at Newcastle City Hall
Oct 15 2007 by Thomas Hall, The Journal
It is 18 years since George and Rosalynde Walker announced the first North East Last Night of the Proms concert. George was predicted to have only months left to live after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and the concert was intended as a one-off fundraiser in aid of cancer research, treatment and patient care.
But George went on to introduce another dozen annual Proms-style nights, his widow Rosalynde courageously taking over the year-round job of organizing the event alongside overseeing the charity North East Promenaders Against Cancer.
I remember the year George announced the £500,000 mark had been reached and asked the audience should we go for the magic number. “Yes!” went up the shout, and here we are with over £1m distributed to the cause up to last year and in excess of £25,000 raised through last Saturday’s concert – Prof Stephen Procter’s blood cancer research unit at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, the main beneficiary.
But as well as being generous, Promenaders know how to have a good time. The Union Jack-waving seemed done with extra fervour due to England’s football victory in the afternoon and the evening’s ongoing England v France rugby match:
We forgave her the diary clash, especially considering the entertainment on offer from regulars: sopranos Janice Cairns and Suzanne Manuell, tenor Blake Fischer and newcomers: the Irish baritone Sam McElroy, the English Philharmonic Orchestra and the combined Ryton Choral Society, Bishopwearmouth Choral Society and Hexham Abbey Festival Chorus.
David Haslam and David Murray shared the conducting honours, turning out stylish accompaniments for operatic arias and songs from the musicals, Suzanne and Blake’s lingering kiss at the end of the act 1 duet from Puccini’s Madam Butterfly going way beyond the call of theatrical duty – ‘ooh’ and ‘ah’, we all said.
The choir were in powerful voice for choruses from Handel (the Hallelujah), Carl Orff (Carmina Burana)and Verdi’s Chorus of the Hebrew slaves. Violinist Bradley Creswick beguiled us with the theme from the film Schindler’s List before being joined by guitar and accordion in some dazzlingly fast, foot-stomping cowboy fiddle tunes.
We sang with gusto for Land of Hope and Glory, Jerusalem and Auld Lang Syne. The Blaydon Races came with some highly entertaining takes on the Geordie accent from the singers, though Janice is an Ashington lass and does it properly, of course.
But as only children can, Sam McElroy’s eight-year-old niece Molly stole the moment through gamely volunteering a verse. Sam held her up to microphone height while she sang out loud and clear, but the question is: Did Janice coach her Geordie accent? Molly’s public demands to know.
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