World Aids Day Concert

This annual event is an extraordinary coming together of the City’s LGBT music scene, mainly choral, as an act of remembrance and awareness and also as a fund raiser for the charity Lunch Positive – and as such it would be wrong to in any way criticise any of the performances. The atmosphere in the church was certainly one of warmth and love and each performing group had given their all to engender that. There were though some outstanding moments throughout the evening. Resound are a quality choir of male voices that achieve the very highest standards and produce a sound that is simply stunning, precise in every sense and rounded. So too do the all female Rebelles under the same musical director Gustaf Nordqvist. And joining forces they gave us a very beautiful Swedish Christmas carol.
Qukulele added a cheeky charm and campness to the evening – matched by the Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus’ irreverent reworking of Mylie Cyrus’ Wrecking Ball! Yes, hearing is believing.
Finally the Rainbow Chorus, a community choir with a no audition policy, directed by Aneesa Chaudhry (newly appointed Musical Director of the European Queer Choir) raised the roof with an outstanding medley from Les Miserables and a run-away train rendition of The Rhythm Of Life – a fitting anthem. All in all an exceptional evening entertainingly held together by comedian Julie Jepson.
St Mary’s Church
1 December
Andrew Kay
5 stars