Music inspired by all sorts of weather at Offaly gramophone group's recital

Climate Change, all kinds of weather and the elements,  was the inspiration for a fascinating musical programme at the recent Tullamore Gramophone Society recital, presented by PRO Geraldine Byrne.  It is a subject dear to the hearts of Irish people with our constantly changing weather.
Starting with the Hebrides Overture, composed by Mendelssohn after a journey to Fingal’s Cave, Scotland, in 1829, the sea theme continued with four Sea Interludes from Benjamin Britten’s Peter Grimes.  This was followed by a lively chorus from Gilbert & Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore, sung by the D’Oyly Carte Chorus.
The theme then changed to Snow, starting with Snow is Dancing by Debussy, followed by an aria from Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Snow Maiden sung by Anna Netrebko.  The Four Seasons ballet by Glazunov brought Hoarfrost, Ice, Hail and Snow.  From Puccini’s La Boheme the beautiful love duet was sung by Renata Tebaldi and Carlo Bergonzi against a background of Christmas Eve snow. 
St. Walpurgis Night, April 30th/May 1st, from Joachim Raff’s Four Seasons Symphony, heralded the arrival of summer.  This included Glinka’s Summer Night in Madrid, Gershwin’s Summertime from Porgy & Bess, sung by Kiri Te Kanawa and the Scherzo from Midsummer Night’s Dream by Mendelssohn.
After the tea/coffee interval the Gloria from Haydn’s Creation Mass  introduced Part 2 of the Recital.  Spring was in the air then with with a movement from Schumann’s Spring Symphony and the Scherzo from Beethoven’s Spring Sonata.  Maytime Will you Remember, sung by Nelson Eddy and Jeanette McDonald, was played in memory of Geraldine’s late mother, Bay Clarke, who was a member of the Gramophone Society in her later years.
Nigel Kennedy’s Melody in the Wind heralded the next theme, which included Blow the Wind Southerly, sung by Kathleen Ferrier and Tara’s Theme from Gone with the Wind, played by Itzhak Perlman.  A Garden in the Rain, sung by John McCormack, was dedicated to Geraldine’s late father, Jim Clarke, who was known to say “There is only one tenor”.  Saturday Night Waltz heralded the end of the programme, which concluded with Rain, Beautiful Rain, sung by Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
In thanking Geraldine for a  fascinating programme, Chairman David Connor remarked that it was wonderful to have musical memories of both your parents.
The next Recital will be held on Thursday, 31st March, at 8 pm in the Charleville Centre and will be presented by Eleanor Geraghty and Kathleen Power.