The amazing story of the Welsh village choir that inspired Pavarotti to take up singing

 

The amazing story of the Welsh village choir that inspired Pavarotti to take up singing. Picture: Courtesy of The Fron Choir

By Maddy Shaw Roberts, ClassicFM London

 

From a local community choir to a worldwide choral sensation – here’s the remarkable history of the tiny Welsh singing ensemble that played a beautiful role in inspiring a young Luciano Pavarotti to deploy his now-legendary pipes.

The Fron Choir is a Welsh village ensemble with an extraordinary history.

Founded in 1947, the all-male chorus has its roots in the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, a competition itself started after the Second World War to promote peace and cultural exchange around the world.

And on the day of the festival, who should show up but a young Luciano Pavarotti.

Luciano came with his conductor father, Fernando, whose own male voice choir, the Chorale di Rossini, had travelled from Modena, Italy to take part.

“In those days, competing choirs were lodged with local families,” the choir tells Classic FM. “The mother of two of the Fron Choir choristers, Travis and Vince Griffiths, offered hospitality to two Italian choristers.

“She was allocated a father and son called Fernando and Luciano Pavarotti.”

It was the Chorale di Rossini who took home the Male Voice Choir competition that day. And on hearing all the beautiful music from the Land of Song, young Luciano was inspired to take up singing and joined the Modena choir himself, which he later described as the most important musical experience of his life.

International participants competing at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. Picture: Getty

“Luciano was just a teenager at the time. He apparently enjoyed the experience so much he vowed to return one day,” the choir added.

And, true to his word, he did – some forty years later, in 1995.

“That connection, made in 1955, resulted in his old choir being lodged with members of The Fron Choir,” the choir explains.

“Pavarotti stayed in a local hotel. We had several opportunities to spend time with him and, although we could not share the stage, he requested that we sing a Welsh song for him, which we did – in the car park of the hotel.

“Thus, Fron Choir, Rossini Choir and Pavarotti all came together for a short impromptu performance of about 15 minutes.”

“He was idolised by all the members of his own choir,” a choir member said. “Not even The Pope could have been more revered.

“It was great to watch him rehearse and then to be in the audience at his concert that weekend where all the accolades were fully justified.”

The great Christopher Plummer passed away

 

He was a classical pianist, and played Rachmaninoff between Sound of Music scenes...

Christopher Plummer was a classically trained pianist, and loved Rachmaninov. Picture: Getty/YouTube

By Maddy Shaw Roberts, ClassicFM London

 

The beloved star of stage and screen was an accomplished pianist, and often tickled the ivories to keep his cast mates entertained during breaks on set.

Christopher Plummer, or as he was most famously known, Captain von Trapp from The Sound of Music, died on 5 February and left behind an extraordinary legacy.

With a gloriously resonant voice, a wicked smile and seemingly sculpted features, the Canadian actor was first choice time and time again for the great Shakespearean roles, and he would leave an immeasurable mark on the acting world.

But as a boy, it was the thought of a pianistic career that occupied Plummer’s mind.

As a schoolboy, Plummer began studying to be a concert pianist, training in all the great classical works. Eventually, his love of acting would eclipse all serious thought to the instrument. But he always returned to the ivories.

Read more: The time Princess Diana casually sat at a piano and played Rachmaninov >

Before he became an actor, Christopher Plummer studied to be a concert pianist. Here he is playing between takes on ‘The Sound of Music.’ pic.twitter.com/4u8CyKFzqC

In this wonderful discussion of The Sound of Music with Julie Andrews, the legendary soprano recalls the time the late actor played for the cast.

“You were phenomenal off the set in that you kept us all very jolly,” Andrews tells Plummer. “You would play the piano brilliantly until very, very late at night.”

“Thank you very much but I think you were all very south to be able to say I played brilliantly…” Plummer says, modestly. “But I was constantly at that piano.”

(C) 2021 by ClassicFM London