"'WELCOME to Christmas’ -
let's call it that," said Rupert Hanson - and so the inaugural concert of newly
formed CoSMOS (City of Sunderland Millennium Orchestral Society) was born.
On Monday December 6 more than 100 people thoroughly enjoyed
coming together, for what the founder members hope will be the first of many, even better
concerts as we go into a new millennium.
John Lennox told us Sunderland had been able to allocate some
money for millennium celebrations and that the three Thornholme Ward councillors felt they
would like to use it for something which would last for many years.
This was the time for various people to come together and share
dreams for our city.
Worthwhile projects always begin with someone's visions, of
which they never let go until they realise fruition. And so was born the idea of an
orchestra for the City of Sunderland with Rupert Hanson as musical director.
An ensemble of 16 musicians, many of whom were very young,
responded to Rupert's tremendous enthusiasm and gave of their very best after only being
together three weeks.
The varied programme ranged through carols for audience
participation, linked with Bible readings of the coming of Jesus Christ, a solo by Rupert
Hanson from Handel's Messiah along with Little Jack Horner in the style of
Handel and 0 Holy Night.
A lovely flute solo was given by Emma, tenderly playing Ave
Maria and being totally unaware that a beautiful butterfly had somehow come in from
the cold and chosen to settle on her as she played.
Audience and musicians joined together in The Twelve Days of
Christmas, laughing as we sang our parts, while bobbing up and down, often at the
wrong time.
Finally the CoSMOS Ensemble drew the concert to a close with a
Christmas Extravaganza.
The special evening was rounded off by gorgeous warm mince pies,
tea, coffee, juice and non-alcoholic mulled wine so that even the car drivers could safely
share in the spirit of Christmas.
Someone's overheard remark summed up the whole event.
"Up to now I hadn't been looking forward to Christmas, but
this concert has changed my feelings and now I feel like enjoying it!"
Well done, CoSMOS!
