Toad Lane Concert: Tim Kennedy tenor and John Gough piano

John Gough and Tim Kennedy

John Gough and Tim Kennedy returned to perform at Toad Lane on Wednesday 19 July.

Tim Kennedy’s career began as a treble at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, then he became a music scholar at Winchester College. A gap year performing at Truro Cathedral led to studying music at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. Now Manchester-based for fifteen years, he pursues a varied freelance career as a lyric tenor soloist, but he also works as an organist, vocal coach and pianist, including as a staff accompanist for singers at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM).

John Gough is an international solo pianist and chamber musician who has just retired after 30 years’ service as senior tutor in piano at the RNCM, as well as at Chetham’s, and examining at the Royal Academy, Guildhall School of Music, and Manchester University.

This distinguished pair opened with a sacred set of Panis Angelicus, Schubert’s Ave Maria and Malotte’s The Lord's Prayer, along with Schubert’s An die Musik. Tim’s clear and expressive soaring delivery continued with attractive modern songs by Katie E. Laing, Lin Marsh and Dorothy Buchanan.

The perennial Loch Lomond, sung unaccompanied was particularly effective.

Thiman’s setting of I wandered lonely as a cloud, led to tenor favourites, I'll walk beside you, and I'll sing thee songs of Araby, followed by If ever I would leave you, from Camelot, all accompanied superbly by John Gough.

Interestingly, as a finale we had Golden by Cliff Richard. The original 1960’s teeny boppers and rock chicks in the audience managed to restrain themselves. It was interesting that the pop song transferred to the concert platform well, as substance won over style.

As the old ballad goes: jolly good songs and jolly well sung and jolly good company… whatever the form. Especially with such consummate artistes.

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