Report of the Concert given by The Wandering Minstrels of Peterborough
at 3 p.m. on Friday 7th August 1998

by Jean Dufty

The Wandering Minstrels of Peterborough provided one of those gems to which we are treated in the afternoons of the Buxton International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival. The Company, six soloists and a pianist, presented a group of songs from each of eight operas, so everyone must have found that at least one of their favourite operas was included. I personally was particularly pleased to see Princess Ida, The Sorcerer and Utopia in the programme. The format of several songs together from an opera makes it easier for performers and audience to get into the spirit of the opera in question.

The concert was well attended - there being over a hundred present - and so there should have been! This compared very well with the 30 or 40 at some other afternoon performances.

It would be difficult to pick out any songs in particular - all were well performed with excellent diction and style. The company looked attractive in evening dress, with enough props to aid our imagination. I particularly liked the sunflowers in one of my favourite songs from all the operas, the delightful men's trio in Patience "You hold yourself like this."

Kathy George, Marie Hayes, Gillian Pendrill, Tim Hurst-Brown, Julian Ransom and John Torr all performed very well and were accompanied by their excellent pianist, Peter Hewitt.

At the end of the performance Neil Smith suggested that next year this concert might be in the Opera House. It was evident that all of us thought that it was a jolly entertaining afternoon.

Jean Dufty (G&S Fanatic)