BRIGHTON GAY MEN’S CHORUS: HEROES

First night of Brighton Fringe Festival and so much on offer, but by 10.30pm I knew that I had made the right decision. To be honest, it was an easy choice, I have been a supporter of BGMC for many years, and last night’s concert was a clear and solid reminder of just why.

Community choirs, by their nature, are changing entities, members come and go but right now BGMC are on top form and their decision to honour the musical heroes of the LGBTQ+ world and our allies was a brilliant idea. And stepping away from their usual skits and sketches to interview two choir members and local LGBTQ+ heroes was excellent, Sarah Savage Trans champion and Gail Smith co-founder of the Sussex Gay Liberation Front spoke so well, clear reminders of how far as a community we have come… and how far we still have to go.

The choir is brilliantly supported by the talents of Joe Paxton and Tim Nail, and both create so many excellent arrangements. St George’s Church in my view is the ideal venue for the choir, filling the Dome at Christmas is for them amazing but St George’s does not require the same level of amplification and as a consequence the vocal qualities of each section have far more clarity and definition. Last night we could properly enjoy the finesse and complexities of those arrangements, precision timing and pitching in a beautiful church.

The set list included so many classic gay anthems, the tunes we danced to, and for those who can still do. Opening with George Michael’s Freedom was a powerful statement of intent, Pet Shop Boy’s It’s A Sin a beautifully rendered contrast. Evan Wilkinson nailed John Grant’s Glacier, part song, part manifesto. The chorus replied with Brian May’s Who Wants To Live Forever and Bowies delightful Where Are We Now.

David Purdue stepped forward with a soaring performance of Mika’s Grace Kelly his powerful falsetto reaching all the right notes in all the right places.

The chorus now has now created a smaller presence with members forming an ensemble. Who thought that a Spice Girls hit could sound like the finest Elizabethan Madrigal, the clarity of this sending shivers and this followed by the really moving Quite Regularly Gay, which was new to me and has me seeking out this morning Joan Szymko, no idea how to pronounce that to be honest but after a quick search I find she is a highly respected American choral arranger. So now we know!

To follow regular BGMC soloist Rod Edmunds sang the touching song Errol Flynn, once again delighting the audience with his fine voice. Then another Bryan May number, Let Me Live, from the full chorus.

I have come to love the breakout quartet that regularly delights with camp choreography and witty arrangements and this time more Pet Shop Boys, What Have I Done To Deserve This? Fun delivered with straight faces, well straightish!

To round out the first act we get Jade’s Church and Beyonce’s Love On Top proving by the half that BGMC are on top form.

Back on the platform we get Bonnie Tyler’s epic power ballad Holding Out For A Hero, and power here is the key word. Then more George Michael, Praying For Time, proof of just how good a songwriter he was.

Heroes had to come at some point but not from the full choir it turns out, Rouge Touati-Evans steps forward and delivers a totally stripped back version that once more sends the hairs on the back of the neck off. What a beautiful performance, a great vocal range but sung with real heart.

And more Bowie to follow with a haunting arrangement of Hallo Space Boy and then Golden Years in which the first tenors showed so well.

Alex Morley then gave us a bit of Elton with a solo of Crocodile Rock, perhaps an unusual choice from that great canon of Elton’s song book, but well sung to be sure.

More George Michael next with Father Figure, then Pulp’s This Is Hardcore.

Regular BGMC audience members are always delighted to see that Graeme Clark Dempster has a solo spot. The man delivers not just a song but real theatre and this time we have Charles Aznavour’s What Makes A Man A Man, a brilliant composition and a stellar performance.

Mariah Carey’s Hero had Lewis Simington-Anstee giving and equally impressive delivery, building the song to powerful heights and then the chorus out in full force hitting their own heights of not only vocal prowess but drama too.

Self Esteem’s I Do And I Don’t Care was a revelation, I was transfixed by the delivery and the complexity, not knowing it, I now have to research that too.

BGMC do love a mash up and this time it’s Better Devil Vogue, Kylie and Madonna both getting a thrashing. Huge applause, a well earned encore and standing ovations.

I have recently been a little peevish with my stars for this great choir, and often because of sound issues rather then their performance. No quibble here, I’m going to see if the tech will allow me to award six stars, it probably won’t, but you read it here.

Andrew Kay

1 May

St George’s Kemp Town

Rating: