You know you’re in for an excellent evening when even unfamiliar music feels promising because you trust those delivering it, writes Bill Griffiths.
From the opening Seize the Day, Minehead Male Voice Choir set the tone, entertaining and uplifting the audience.
Their opening sequence included Love Is All Around, the calypso Yellow Bird, and finished with the energetic Cat-Like Tread from Pirates of Penzance.
The concert also featured the talented Taunton Deane Male Voice Choir celebrating no less than their 80th year this year.
Their segment was a delight, ranging from Every Time I Feel the Spirit to the serene Benedictus.
The repertoire included Away from the Rolling Sea and a standout Pinball Wizard.
Who would have expected a 1969 UK chart hit to become a 2026 highlight for TDMVC in Minehead?
Mike Wager’s speedy piano performance was a visual and musical treat.
Bravo, Maestro!
The first half ended with I Have a Dream, a musical interpretation of Martin Luther King’s speech, timely and poignant.
After the interval, no one needed persuading to return – we were keen for more!
Excitement rose as TDMVC began the second half with Man of La Mancha (with blink-and-you-miss-it choreography!), followed by Another Day and a superb Bohemian Rhapsody, where the basses excelled.
Their enthusiasm was obvious.
The set closed with The Wonder Of You and a stirring How Great Thou Art.
Minehead MVC returned with competitive spirit, launching into the breathless Rhythm of Life from Sweet Charity.
Their moving rendition of Coldplay's Fix You highlighted both music and lyrics.
The set also featured Siyahamba, Stars from Les Misérables, and concluded with the Welsh hymn Deus Salutis (God of Salvation).
Had the concert ended there, we’d have been satisfied; but the joint performance was the real highlight.
Together, both choirs sang the Welsh Temperance prayer Rachie, leaving us wanting more.
The evening finished with American Trilogy, made famous by Elvis, but with all 80 voices united, they truly were all kings for the night.
Credit must go to the outstanding musical directors – Jackie Butterworth (MMVC) and Nick Thomas (TDMVC) – for their calm dedication and the skilled accompanists Chloe Kingdon (Minehead) and Mike Wager (Taunton).
The comperes also deserve thanks: Phil Knowles (TDMVC) and the brilliantly witty Kerry Steele kept us entertained.
It was a magnificent, heart-warming evening on a blustery Saturday night.
If you’ve never attended such a concert, consider this: I brought a friend who didn’t expect to enjoy it, but after the standing ovation, he exclaimed, "That was brilliant!"
Listening to MMVC is addictive – give them a try next time.
