The festive season in Bahrain is officially open, thanks to the Manama Singers’ annual Christmas Carols and Dinner at The Dilly in Saar.
The choir was in full voice with its treasured ‘wall of sound’ snugly cocooning the audience like a delightful duvet on a chilly night.
Backed by some impressive bass notes delivered by male members of the mostly female entourage, the packed audience on Friday evening fully committed to the occasion by joining in family favourites like Jingle Bells and the 12 Days of Christmas.
“This event does mark the beginning of the Christmas season for lots of people, including choir members, and we also feast on the Christmas fare of turkey and all the trimmings!” admitted Susan Scott, Manama Singers’ committee chairperson. “I believe that if anyone in Bahrain thinks of Christmas carols – they automatically think of Manama Singers.”
The set was tight and cleverly crafted so well deserved applause has to be showered on musical directors Jo Diciolla and Stefan Els, with outstanding support from piano-playing accompanist Joel Nonoo.
My personal favourite on the night was I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas as I’ve always had a soft spot for The Drifters version of this best-selling classic and the free-flowing Winter Wonderland was a superb example of using the Singers’ range of vocalists to their fullest and their offering was as warm and smooth as the giant brie and cranberry vol-au-vent served by the Dilly chefs as a superb starter.
This was the Manama Singers penultimate Christmas event following appearances at the American Women’s Association Snowflake Fair and the annual British Club tree-lighting event.
Their final performance of carols will be at St Christopher’s Cathedral on December 7 and, shortly before that, they will be making their debut appearance at the Bahrain Jazz Fest on Friday with a couple of delightful ditties previewed at the dinner, showing they can sing with a swing too!
Stanley Szecowka
&uuid=(email))