IT will be a night of mixed emotions for celebrated soprano Cheryl Enever when she steps on to the stage for one of Exeter’s most popular concerts this autumn.
Cheryl is the soloist at Classics Galore! on Saturday November 9 at the University of Exeter Great Hall.
The concert is in aid of Exeter-based FORCE Cancer Charity, a cause close to Cheryl’s heart as she explains.
“I first came to know about the wonderful work FORCE does when my dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2017.
“He and my mum benefitted from some of the treatments and support they offered. I also had a little bit of counselling afterwards, which helped me to move forward after my lovely dad died the following year.
“When the idea of taking part in the next Classics Galore! concert was first mentioned, I really didn’t have to think about at all!
“My first concert in 2022 was everything I’d hoped for and more. It was such a joyful event and Malcolm (Classics Galore! musical director Malcom Matthews) is a dream to work with.
“The orchestra, brass band and assembled chorus were absolutely fantastic! Obviously, opera is my passion but I must admit that the bit I enjoyed the most, by some way, was the ‘Sound of Music’ singalong! I was in my element and to see such a big audience of all ages joining in was just brilliant!
“I am so thrilled to be back again this year and the programme looks just as good with yet another marvellous singalong that I cannot wait for!”
Exeter’s very own Last Night of the Proms will be compered by BBC Spotlight presenter Victoria Graham.
The event was established in 2007 and held every two years until the pandemic forced the postponement of the 2021 event until November 2022.
The eight concerts have raised an overall total of more than £130,000 for FORCE, which provides free cancer support to anyone locally affected by cancer. The target for 2024 is to take that total beyond the £150,000 mark.
More than 200 musicians and singers will again fill the stage this autumn to delight the audience with a wonderful mix of pieces that will be familiar to many.
There will be everything from the “Hallelujah Chorus” to the theme from “Superman” with a rousing singalong finale in true Proms tradition.
The specially chosen Classics Galore! orchestra, Ottery St Mary Choral Society, St David’s Players and the Lympstone Band will all be performing alongside Cheryl.
She has sung a huge variety of operatic roles for companies including Royal Opera House, English Touring Opera and Classical Opera Company across the UK, much of the rest of Europe and beyond.
“More recently I have sung with Destination Opera, a company founded by my dear friend and fellow singer, Jon Valender. The company aims to make opera more accessible by getting young people involved in high quality performances of operas in the Dorset area and beyond,” said Cheryl.
They are presenting The Trial of Iago at Shire Hall Museum, Dorchester on October 10 and 11. It’s a courtroom opera which uses Verdi’s opera Otello to look at the Shakespeare tragedy through the eyes of a judge who decides just who is guilty. More details at: www.destinationopera.co.uk .
She and Jon also enjoy performing Music at the Malthouse at The Bridge Inn in Topsham.
“It is always such a fun evening and combines two of our favourite things: opera and beer! We were there in July and plan to return next year for our third concert,” she said.
Classics Galore!was established by cancer patient Dick Passmore, who lived and worked in Exeter all his life, and his wife Posy.
Sadly, Dick died in early 2019 but he has left an amazing legacy, one that FORCE is thoroughly looking forward to celebrating again on November 9.
Ticket prices range from £12 to £30 and can be booked online through Ticketsource: www.ticketsource.co.uk/classics-galore-exeter - or via the FORCE website: https://forcecancercharity.co.uk/classicsgalore/ .