Rhydian Roberts shines in concert

Rhydian Roberts, Côr Curiad and Côr Meibion Llanelli, Selwyn Samuel Centre, Llanelli.

They came from as far away as Scotland. Some came from North Lincolnshire, Southampton and Brighton. There were even a couple of hundred from Felinfoel!
The Rhydian Roberts Fan Club must be as well travelled as the Llanelli’s Scarlets rugby team.
They certainly made sure that visiting Munster rugby fans had their work cut out trying to find a spare hotel room in Llanelli on Saturday night.
For the first time, the ‘Full House’ notices went up at the Selwyn Samuel Centre in Llanelli, with 1,200 packed into the bowls hall.
The gala concert had been arranged by the ladies of Côr Curiad to raise funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust, with a cheque for an amazing £14,000 being handed over on the night.
The classically-trained Rhydian, hero of X Factor and much more besides, made a grand entrance with a dramatic rendition of the Tom Jones classic Thunderball, from the James Bond film of the same name.
Rhydian sang two 20-minute spots in each half, with an ambitious selection which included Somewhere from West Side Story and Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera.
Mixed in was The Impossible Dream, Go West (which brought back memories for Côr Meibion Llanelli of the time they sang it with the Pet Shop Boys in the 1993 Brit Awards in the Alexandra Palace in London), and Pan Fyddo'r Nos yn Hir and Hafan Gobaith.
The concert finale saw Rhydian rally his army of fans with Dafydd Iwan’s Yma O Hyd, with both Côr Curiad and Côr Meibion Llanelli joining him in the chorus.
Côr Curiad’s set included - The Battle of Jericho, Over the Rainbow, Your Song, Adiemus, Ti a dy Ddoniau, I'll Stand By You, Autumn Leaves, Gweddi'r Arglwydd, Sosban Fach, Don’t Rain On My Parade and Gwenllian.
Côr Meibion Llanelli sang Superstar, Anthem (from Chess), Moon River, Blue Moon, Swing Low, Ride The Chariot, You'll Never Walk Alone and A-men.
Both choirs were happy to play supporting roles to Rhydian Roberts, but their performances alone were well worth the price of the ticket.
Special praise should go to accompanists Jayne Jewell and Sarah Thomas and music directors Alex Esney and Eifion Thomas.
The evening was compered in some style by Swansea Sound broadcaster and personality Kevin Johns.
Weblinks:
You Tube video - http://youtu.be/sJR8-QXrTWY
http://www.rhydianroberts.com/
http://corcuriad.co.uk/