Toad Lane Concerts: Eric Cymbir tenor and Jonathan Ellis piano

Jonathan Ellis and Eric Cymbir

Two seasoned performers stepped up with a delightful programme to cover for an intended third member who had come down with tonsilitis on Wednesday 7 December.

Eric Cymbir began his singing career in the early 1980s when he was teaching in New Zealand. He returned to his native Edinburgh, and then to Manchester in 1987, to continue with companies such as Opera Viva and City of Manchester Opera.

Prize-winning pianist Jonathan Ellis started learning the piano at the age of three. He attended Wells Cathedral School, following which he went to the RNCM and the University of Manchester, achieving first-class degrees from both institutions, plus postgraduate diplomas in solo piano, accompaniment and chamber music.

With shades of Kenneth McKellar, Eric declared his Scottish roots with Westering Home, followed by personal favourites, Smoke gets in your eyes, Beautiful Dreamer and Non Ti Scordar.

Jonathan played Schubert’s lyrical Impromptu in G flat beautifully, before more favourite songs, Gershwin’s I got Rhythm and An Eriskay Love Lilt. A Ukrainian song, Moyee Yasenay by Kryvinsky marked Eric’s Ukrainian heritage, causing us to reflect on the current situation there, before operatic style tenor solos, Macushla by Dermot MacMurrough and Lunge de Lei from Verdi’s La Traviata.

Jonathan made the most of the vintage Challen Grand piano with an exciting Ballade No 3 in A flat by Chopin, which led to a concluding set of seasonal numbers, Walking in a Winter Wonderland, Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire and O Holy Night by Adolphe Adam.

The Queen’s Award-winning Toad Lane Concerts are every Wednesday at 12.30pm at the Grade 1 listed church of St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ. Entrance fee is £6. No refreshments available now, but the venue is Covid-19 compliant. Contact 01706 648872 for further information.

To see details of forthcoming Toad Lane Concerts, click here.

Dr Joe Dawson