Toad Lane Concerts: Voci Voices

Voci Voices (l-r): Jonathan Ellis piano, Elizabeth Ambrose soprano, Margaret Ferguson mezzo, Eric Cymbir tenor and Mackenzie Paget baritone

The first Toad Lane concert of 2025 at St Mary in the Baum coincided with a fiercely cold snap. However, a fair number of brave souls braved the elements to enjoy a feast of singing in the 1,119th concert since taking over from the council in 2001.

It was a welcome return of award-winning troupe, Voci Voices. There was an international flavour too, with performers’ roots in Poland, Ghana, Scotland, and Wales, accompanied by English pianist Jonathan Ellis (who managed to reproduce a full orchestra or provide sensitive support of voices as necessary).

This splendid quartet opened with a moving arrangement of Britten’s A New Year Carol, before exploring a Viennese vibe with The Blue Danube by Johann Strauss II and Vienna, City of My Dreams by Sieczynski. Vienna is synonymous with New Year musical extravaganzas and Voci Voices brought this to Rochdale.

A set in more popular style, A Morning Star by Lloyd Larson, Bethlehem from Martin Guerre, and Mary, Did You Know? by Lowry & Greene, led to the delicately balanced Cantique de Jean Racine by Fauré.

Duets followed, firstly with Eric and Mackenzie in Donizetti’s Ave Maria followed by a beautiful O Lovely Peace (Judas Maccabeus) by Handel from Elizabeth and Margaret. Both pairs complemented each other superbly.

The final strains of Christmas, Bring us Hope by Ruth Elaine Schram and The Snow Waltz by Goff Richards led us back to a Viennese-style celebration with Tales from the Vienna Woods by Johann Strauss and The Merry Widow Waltz by Lehár.

An encore was demanded and granted with a stirring arrangement of I wish you love, which is fast becoming their signature tune, rounding off an enthusiastic and packed songfest admirably suited to the acoustics of St Mary in the Baum. Happy New Year!

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