Toad Lane Concerts: Katy Allen soprano Tim Kennedy piano

Tim Kennedy and Katy Allen

Despite the cold snap, intrepid Toad Lane concertgoers trekked through the snow to a performance that warmed the cockles of their hearts on Wednesday 18 January.

Mancunian soprano, Katy Allan, is a first-class graduate of the RNCM. In addition to her solo singing, she recently became Assistant Director of the Hallé Children's Choir, coming full circle from when she joined the choir herself at age ten. Katy is a freelance Singing and Dementia Specialist and organises concerts in her hometown of Buxton.

Tim Kennedy studied music at Cambridge and is now based in Manchester as a piano accompanist, professional singer, vocal coach, and organist. He is a staff repetiteur at the RNCM, is the rehearsal pianist for choirs and works regularly as an official festival accompanist.

Introduced in an engaging and succinct manner, their top-quality varied recital progressed from a dazzling aria from Haydn’s Creation via French songs to Novello’s Waltz of my Heart.

Tim provided a dynamic contrasting interlude with The Man I love and I got rhythm by Gershwin.

The second half brought a large-scale aria from Mozart’s Idomeneo that led to some impeccable German lieder by Brahms and Clara Schumann, and songs by Quilter and the African American Mark Fax, culminating in And This is my Beloved from Kismet.

A wonderful soprano recital that ticked all the boxes of repertoire delivered with confident enthusiasm and joy.

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