An amazing
McLellan Arts Festival
When planning for the current McLellan Arts Festival began last year, the outlook was grim. Funding sources had dried up, and it seemed that the Theatre and Arts Committee was on its own, trying to make what it could out of very little money, with fingers crossed for a good public response. In fact, the response turned out to be more than good – it has been fantastic. The showing of old Arran films on the Thursday night attracted more people than Corrie Hall has ever seen, and has resulted in more people coming forward with archive photographs and film. Hopefully, this is an event that can be repeated before long.
The week began on the previous Friday night with the ever-popular Arran and Beyond, featuring the well-known poet, Alexander Hutchison, who gave an entertaining performance that from time to time burst into song. Local poets also read their work, and the Wild Myrtles singing group gave a welcome return performance.
Due to Peter Alexander Wilson, who has a house in Corrie, we benefited again from the presence of twelve talented students from the Royal Northern College of Music, whose Opera Gala on the Friday night was a sell-out, with every seat in the Community Theatre taken. A big added attraction was the presence of the gleaming black grand piano, gifted so generously by Colin Guthrie and making its presence known for the first time. Daniel Browell and Jamie Thompson, the talented accompanists from the college, both played solos on the splendid new Kawai. John Wilson, the concert pianist who helped to select it, joined with Jamie in Rachmaninov’s glorious Barcarolle and Waltz duet, which showed off not only the skill of the performers but the piano’s beautiful clarity and resonance.
The students put on a magnificent evening of song, ranging in the first half from classic arias to Copland’s Little Horses and the well-known Vaughan Williams setting of The Vagabond. After the interval, they were back with a lighter collection of music. Amy Webber and the flamboyantly talented Hanna-Liisa Kirchin gave a suitably yowly rendering of Rossini’s Cats Duet. However, it would be invidious tosingle out any individual performer from this galaxy of talent. The quality of the voices, from clear sopranos to warm and melodious mezzos and from resounding tenors to rich baritones and basses, was exceptional, and the audience was with them every inch of the way, enjoying one delectable offering after another. A touching addition was a beautifully sung rendering of Drink To Me Only by the very young Oisean Gold, a little nervous but bravely professional and clear with every note. He had benefited from free teaching by Peter Alexander Wilson, to whom Arran’s music owes so much. Another welcome addition was Grieg’s lovely Solveig’s Song, dedicated to the wonderfully generous Colin Guthrie.
