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Spring Concert, Silhouette Opera, St Albans Church, Charminster Road

SILHOUETTE is made up mainly of past and present pupils of former international tenor turned singing teacher, Jon Andrew, and over the years the likes of Kate Royal and David Habbin have graced his stage prior to establishing successful operatic careers.

The performers in this concert, which as usual was to raise funds for Julia’s House and featured Daily Mail opera critic David Gillard as the presenter, ranged in age from 12 to 76, with the majority in their mid to late teens. Among those younger singers, each one of whom is clearly talented, were several who seem set to follow in their illustrious predecessors’ footsteps, not least Jessica James (Cabaret), Kate Simpson (Yentl’s The Way He Makes Me Feel), Rossano Saltfleet (Chess Anthem), Natasha Barnes (La Traviata’s Sempre Libera) and Carly Dawson (Habanera, Carmen). All five are not only outstanding vocally but also ooze stage presence and that certain other indefinable something.

And with Silhouette regulars Lorraine Rowan, Jonathan Prentice, Marcus Marriott and, of course, Jon himself among the other soloists thrilling their audience with excerpts from The Merry Widow, Don Giovanni, Otello, Pagliacci and more,  not to mention the superb accompaniment of Neil Sissons, this was an evening to savour.   

Linda Kirkman

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