In May, from the heart of Helsinki in Finland to Caldicot in the South-East of Wales, two magnificent Male Voice Choirs united to create a memorable evening of music.
The CALDICOT MALE VOICE CHOIR has 60 members (ranging in age from 26 – 99); for this performance, 50 members took part in the show. The MUNTRA MUSIKANTER CHOIR has 120 members, with ages ranging from singers in their 30s to 96 – which surely proves singing is a wonderful way for everyone to keep themselves young, happy and enthusiastic!
Caldicot Male Voice Choir is arguably one of the larger and leading male voice choirs and, although based in Wales, the choir tours regularly and extensively throughout England, including – amongst many other places! – Bristol, Wembley Stadium with The Three Tenors, Camberley, Weston-super-Mare, Cheltenham, Folkestone, Canterbury, Oxford and Blackpool; they have also enjoyed great success with their tours of Europe and America.
It had its beginnings in 1962, following the completion of the giant steelworks at Llanwern near Newport, which employed many experienced steelworkers, particularly from Port Talbot and Ebbw Vale. Providing housing for the steel workers led to a huge increase in the population of small communities like Caldicot, and it was soon realised there was no male voice choir in the area.
In 1963, the founding members of the choir – Roy Hogan, Len Waters and Josh Grindle – held an informal meeting at the Cross pub in Caldicot. They approached Ralph Hodges who became the choir’s first musical director, and then knocked on doors, persuading colleagues to join what became the Caldicot and District Male Voice Choir.
Great oaks from little acorns grow! Their first concert was held on 12 October 1964; they soon established themselves as a successful choir, and over the years have created an impressive list of performances, being honoured in 2018 to sing at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the 70th birthday of the then Prince of Wales, now King Charles III, and for Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at her Golden Jubilee. The Choir has also enjoyed great success competing at National Eisteddfodau, tours on P&O cruise ships and various stadia throughout the country. They have been delighted to share a stage with internationally famous singers such as Luciano Pavarotti, Jose Carreras and Placido Domingo at Wembley Stadium and, more recently, and among many others, they have performed with Welsh tenors Rhys Meirion, Aled Wyn Davies and Aled Hall, and have also sung with Bryn Terfel; hearing him sing Kyrie Eleison in Welsh at King Charles III’s Coronation was a spine-tingling moment!
In 1996, following a huge fundraising effort and lottery grant, the choir’s own concert and practice hall was built. It is the envy of all the choirs who have visited it, and is unique in that it is the only one in Wales (and probably in the UK) that has been purpose-built and acoustically designed for a male voice choir.
Through its concert performances, each year the choir raises several thousands of pounds for local and national charities. To facilitate its charity commitments, it performs at private functions and Company events; it also provides opportunities for rising new young singers at the start of their careers.
The Muntra Musikanter (The Merry Musicians) Choir from Helsinki in Finland had its beginnings in 1878; it was first known as “P.C.”, which was short for Petersburg Concert, and referred to a concert trip planned to take place in that city. Although that concert fell through, the Choir survived, and gave its first performance on 11 May 1878. Later, it became known as the “Sällskapet MM (the Muntra Musikanter Society) and has rejoiced in that happy name ever since.
From its earliest days, the Choir has travelled extensively, performing all over Europe and this year is enjoying its 145th anniversary concert tour. It is one of the oldest performing male voice choirs in Finland, and has gone from strength to strength, performing regularly in concerts both in Finland and in Europe, including Wales and England, and further abroad in Malta and the USA.
The Muntra Musikanter Choir is also the proud owner of the oldest “Spex” performing art tradition in Finland. “Spex” originally began as Swedish student comedy productions, rather akin to the British panto tradition, with men performing the female roles, and creating parodies of operatic arias or popular hits. They are always amateur productions, with lots of improvisation, and audience participation is actively encouraged!
The Choir has a brilliant Conductor, Riku Laurikka; he is a graduate from the Sibelius Music Academy in Helsinki, and joined the Choir in February 2021.
The pieces chosen by both choirs, although very different, all created “pictures in our heads,” inspired by the amazing sound effects produced by their wonderful voices; from delicate whispers to full-throated orchestral resonance, it was not just to be listened to, but was an experience of an exceptional sound, created by those voices alone.
Accompanied by John Nicholson, The Caldicot Choir’s Musical Director, Sian Hatton and Shirley Anne James conducted the singers through a varied programme of songs, from rousing musical numbers such as “76 Trombones” to poignant reminiscences in “The Miners’ Song,” by Dan and Laura Curtis, written in 2013, as a tribute to fallen miners. Closing their part of the concert was a stirring rendition of the Welsh National Anthem, “Land of Our Fathers.”
The Muntra Musikanter’s programme included works by Elgar and Finnish, Swedish and Estonian composers focussing on the forces of nature, and ancient songs of the sea; they also delighted their audience in Caldicot by performing a song in Welsh, “Calon Lan” – Pure Heart – beautifully sung, and such a compliment to their hosts. Their final piece was Sibelius’ “Finlandia,” sung with great joy and pride.
The Choir has an impressive list of recordings to their name; “Prime” was released on Spotify in 2020, and video performances can also be viewed on YouTube.
During their tour of Wales, Muntra Musikanter also performed at Llandaff Cathedral, and gave another concert at St John’s Church in Cardiff.
The Chairman of the choir, Sam Simonsen, said their future programme includes plans for further tours of Europe and Japan.
Last year, the Caldicot Male Voice Choir also sang in Llandaff Cathedral in a joint concert with the North Dakota University Choir, and their future plans include another performance at the Royal Albert Hall on 27th April next year. Recordings of their concerts can be found on YouTube and Facebook – full details can be found on their website HERE.
Both choirs will continue to be much in demand and enjoyed by everyone who has the pleasure of attending their concerts.
Story by: ALEXANDRA WILDE
