The Marlowe Studio
Sunday 6 November

The question asked by the Marlowe Friends was “Would the old Marlowe Café Bar concerts transfer successfully to the new Marlowe Studio?” The answer was a very definite “Yes!” With its excellent acoustics, well raked seating, large performance area and clever lighting, the Studio is a very different venue but one that works.

Baritone Geoffrey Horton and his guest Caroline Carragher (mezzo-soprano) together with pianist Jo Miller-Shepherd were able to perform a varied selection of songs and arias free from the previous restrictions of low ceiling height and small ‘stage’.

Geoffrey who has been a favourite with the Friends for many years, aware that this concert was an important milestone, gave us a wonderfully varied programme of music and anecdotes. After the title song, For You Alone, he sang the first of many Mozart arias, Non Piu Andrai from The Marriage of Figaro – music perfectly suited to his vocal and acting talents. We then heard another beautiful aria, Una Voce Poco Fa by Rossini performed by Caroline who, later in the programme, showed her versatility when she also sang Waltz of My Heart by Novello and Sequidilla from Bizet’s Carmen.

It was a stimulating programme with many contrasts – Jo’s accomplished piano solo The Man I Love by Gershwin, the very moving number Empty Tables from Les Miserables sung by Geoffrey and the sparkling I Could Have Danced All Night and Vilia from Caroline. A surprise item sung at the request of Friends’ Chairman June Brewer was I Won’t Send Roses from Mack & Mabel by Jerry Herman, proving that should Geoffrey ever tire of opera, he could have a new career as a romantic crooner!

Finally, after the duet Tonight from West Side Story, the loud applause proved that not only had around 100 Friends enjoyed the music, they also approved of the Studio as our new home.

ANN POWELL