If you enjoy the music of Gilbert & Sullivan or Flanders & Swann, then Harlow Chorus have a real treat in store for you!

On Saturday 14^th May, 7.30pm, at All Saints Church, Hockerill, they will transport you to ‘Topsy-Turvey Land’ with choral arrangements of solo songs and ensembles from some of your favourite G&S comic operas such as ‘The Mikado’, ‘Patience’ and ‘Iolanthe’. You can sigh along with ‘Titwillow’ and marvel at the dramatics of ‘The Nightmare Song’; laugh at ‘A Policeman’s Lot’ and sway to the chorus of ‘The Love-Sick Boy’. Whether or not you are familiar with G&S, there will be something in this selection for you!

Interestingly enough, one of the first songs Flanders & Swann wrote together was a send-up of G&S, called ‘In The D’Oyly Cart’! They, too, were masters of witty lyrics and catchy tunes.

Michael Flanders and Donald Swann had known each other since school days, but only began performing together after the Second World War in revues – a popular form of entertainment right up until the ‘70s. Flanders wrote the narratives and lyrics for their performances and Swann – a very talented pianist – wrote the music. Their most popular songs come from two reviews: ‘At the Drop of a Hat’ and ‘At the Drop of Another Hat’ and it’s songs such as ‘The Gas-Man Cometh’, ‘Ill-Wind’ and ‘The Hippopotamus Song’ which have endured and continue to delight audiences (who can resist singing along to ‘Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud’?!).

An evening such as this needs a raconteur and singer and ex King’s Singer, Jeremy Jackman fits the bill admirably!

Jeremy began his career as a freelance countertenor and choral director, singing throughout Eastern and Western Europe as a soloist and with famous ensembles such as the BBC Singers and The Sixteen. In 1980 he was invited to join The King’s Singers and spent the next ten years performing with them around the world. Since 1990 he has resumed work as a choral conductor and is frequently invited to give workshops and master-classes with established choirs in the UK and overseas.

The piano accompaniment for the concert will be by Harlow Chorus’ own talented accompanist, Susan Graham Smith and the ensemble will be conducted by the Musical Director of Harlow Chorus, Sarah Tenant-Flowers, who will encourage audience participation in selected choruses!

This is definitely an evening of pure enjoyment!