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CLASSICAL DIVA CHARMS ENCHANTED AUDIENCE

Bristol Evening Post, 10 July 2006

It may have been a damp and gloomy evening but Lesley Garrett's warm personality and fantastic voice helped make the 2006 Prom on The Close the brightest and best yet. More than 5,000 people congregated on the playing fields beside Bristol's Clifton College to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the music at the fifth annual outdoor classical music concert.

It began with some wonderful music and turned into the biggest party in the West as Lesley Garrett worked her magic on a hugely appreciative - if slightly chilly - audience.

From late afternoon promenaders with picnic tables, chairs and even candelabra gathered on the manicured lawns beside the College.

They brought champagne, food, children and friends and settled down for what was to turn into a completely enchanting evening.

The event began with some breath-taking solo performances from three of the College's most talented music students, double bass player Ha-Young Jung and violinists Julia Hwang and Lana Trimmer.

Then as a light rain began to fall, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Clifton College choir took to the stage and the concert began.

There was a huge round of applause as Lesley Garrett, the UK's most popular classical music singer, walked out looking glamorous in a cream dress.

Immediately she struck up a rapport with the audience, and as soon as she started to sing she charmed everybody.

Flag-waving children danced barefoot on the grass as Ms Garrett's wonderful voice filled The Close with much-loved songs like When I Fall In Love and Wonder of You .

After the interval, as dusk fell behind the illuminated College buildings, the music headed towards its climax.

Ms Garrett kept up the banter with the audience, and threw in a few slightly risque double entrendres in between superb performances.

The entire audience clapped along to prom classics such as the Hornpipe, and there was such a rapturous response to Rule Britannia that Lesley Garrett and the RPO did an encore. Jersusalem was sung to a modern arrangement that made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

Emotion reached a crescendo as the orchestra played Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance (Land of Hope and Glory) , and there was an atmosphere of elation.

The event was rounded off with a spectacular firework display.
 

© 2006 Clifton College