Finally, after over two years without performing publicly, some 30 Chorus members took part in an enjoyable and well-attended ‘outdoor’ concert under canvas on the afternoon of Saturday 25 June. The principal work, Fauré’s Requiem, was given in a new arrangement by Benjamin Teague for keyboard and strings, with soloists Victoria Illsley (soprano) and Piet Zorn (baritone), and this was preceded by some shorter works by Rachmaninov, Purcell, Stanford and others. Our musical director John Abraham made a welcome return to the podium.

Canton Chorus would like to thank Cardiff Harlequins RFC for allowing us to use part of their field to erect the marquee that served as our concert venue – and which proved invaluable when the rains came during performance. The marquee was hired from It’s Covered.

This was a free concert, but a collection for the local refugee charity Space4UCardiff raised a total of £253.62, for which we received a lovely letter of thanks (see below).

We are sorry to say that, despite the precautions that we took, some members of the choir reported positive Covid tests in the days following the concert. We wish them all a speedy recovery.

Photographs © Gordon Plant