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Russell joined Raymond Gubbay’s Christmas Carolling at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, on the evening of Monday 17th December as their Very Special Guest.
Before the start of the show, Russell ‘Tweeted’… “Dinner is served at the Bridgewater ……. Splendid ; ) http://yfrog.com/hs482sij “
Hosted by Russell Grant, the concert featured singers James Graeme and Sophie Evans supported by four members of Capital Voices backed by The Kinder Children’s Choir of the High Peak (Derbyshire) and the Manchester Concert Orchestra conducted by Richard Balcombe.
It quickly became a case of ‘Russ1’ (RW) and ‘Russ2’ (RG) to distinguish their cues while James and Sophie led the majority of the singing; James, at one point, in full Santa costume singing the Elvis Presley number “Blue Christmas” and Sophie, throughout, in her red shoes from the part of Dorothy in the production of Wizard of Oz.
Amid the traditional carols and more modern Christmas songs, Russell sang sacred arias Panis Angelicus, O Holy Night, Ave Maria and Pie Jesu as well as a lovely duet of The Prayer (with Sophie Evans) before joing in with closing carols.
He reprised his performance the following afternoon with the same principals at the Royal Albert Hall but this time supported by the Southend Boys’ and Girls’ Choirs with the London Concert Orchestra.
Things looked to be going well, with this ‘Tweet’, “@russellthevoice lovely to have been able to perform with you this afternoon. Bring on friday 🙂 #RAH #southendchoirs” and they did it all again on Friday 21st!
Russellers 