Toad Lane Concerts: Anne Butterworth soprano, Stephen Taylor baritone & Elaine Marsden

Stephen Taylor, Anne Butterworth & Elaine Marsden

Local performers make a significant contribution to entertainment, culture and wellbeing in the borough. Three such enthusiasts who have served us well for several years performed at Toad Lane on Wednesday 13 September.

Anne Butterworth is a peripatetic music teacher, singer and flautist. She has taken many leading roles and is the musical director for Woodhouses Amateur Operatic Society.

Stephen Taylor is a retired telecommunications engineer. He has been the musical director and leading baritone in amateur dramatic shows, plays saxophone in three concert bands and conducts Pendle Community Orchestra and the Hyndburn Singers.

Pianist Elaine Marsden particularly enjoys accompanying. She says "it’s SUCH good fun."

Anne and Steve sang duets ranging from Mozart’s Magic Flute, Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera to Lehar. Plus, a special rendition of the traditional Maori love song Pokarekare Ana, with the added exotic element of Steve’s ukulele.

These were interspersed with solo songs, Anne with Weill, Vaughan Williams, Lloyd Webber, and Zeller; Steve with Head, Vaughan Williams, Brodsky and Keel; and both with extracts from Gilbert and Sullivan.

Accompanist Elaine also contributed an attractive solo interlude with Gershwin’s They All Laughed. Certainly, this was a thoroughly enjoyable and varied concert from local stalwarts.

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

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

Dr Joe Dawson