Llandovery Male Voice Choir - Côr Meibion Llanymddyfri - celebrated its 125th anniversary in style, treating a sold out house at Ysgol Rhys Prichard’s Pantycelyn Hall to a hugely entertaining evening of music writes Huw S Thomas.

The concert – deftly and confidently compered by BBC announcer Gary Owen – a late replacement for Huw Edwards - and with guest artists tenor Trystan Llŷr Griffiths and soprano Shân Cothi in irrepressible form – was a fitting start to a year of concerts to commemorate the choir’s beginnings.

On Saturday under the direction of their acclaimed conductress Lynne Jones and accompanist Elaine Robbins, they sang themselves joyfully through a rich variety of choral music, ranging from classic Welsh to the more popular modern pieces.

It was their first official concert for three years following the disruption to life caused by the Covid pandemic.

“We all love singing” said chorister and chairman Owen Bennett “but it's far more than just singing, it's very much a family, very much a community of music lovers of all ages spanning eight decades.”

“It’s been a huge part of everyone’s life and continues to be so and this concert was a joyous event both for us and the Llandovery community at large.”

His words were echoed by the Choir’s President Meiriona Rees who had instilled a love of music and Welsh culture in so many schoolchildren in her 37 years of teaching at Ysgol Rhys Prichard.

“How lucky we are as a small community to be able to enjoy such a heart warming evening of choral and solo singing as we wonder at the power of music.”

There was, too, a warm tribute to the choir from Brian Jones - former landlord of the Cottage Inn, Llandeilo - who presented a specially commissioned plate in recognition of the choir’s work for charity.

“We raised £90,000 during my time at the Cottage” said Jones “and it was the annual concert that the choir gave which was the main contributor to the charities we embraced.”

“MacMillan Charity Support, Tenovus and the Welsh Air Ambulance along with the Llandelo Show were the beneficiaries of the Choir’s continued support over the years.”

The brilliance of two talented soloists in Trystan Llŷr Griffiths and Shân Cothi and the youthful energy of the supporting Côr Ysgol Rhys Prichard under Tracey Aston-Rees made for a sparkling evening.

The magnetic Shan Cothi gave full range to her talents with a stunning rendering of Puccini’s aria O mio babbino cara, sang a medley of Ivor Novello melodies and brought lumps to the throat with her performance of O Gymru.