GO Compare's infamous opera singer and acclaimed tenor Wynne Evans helped Dursley Male Voice Choir raise thousands in a charity concert for a new station at Portishead for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Here is a report of the evening at the Victoria Halls in Bristol on Suanday, April 6.

A concert organiser’s worst scenario is that the Guest Soloist will be unable to perform at short notice.

For the week before the concert on Saturday, April 5, Wynne Evans was not well and it looked as if he might not be able to sing because of a throat condition.

However following treatment, he improved but there was still some doubt shortly before the concert whether he would be able to sing throughout.

Wynne was insistent that he should fulfil his commitment and being the true professional he arranged for his brother, Mark Llewelyn Evans, another internationally renowned singer, to be on stand by should matters not be resolved.

It was agreed that Wynne would start the concert and see how his voice stood up to his problem. As it happened he was superb and performed to his highest standard.

The bonus for the audience was that Mark was also present ‘on standby’ and he also performed contributed several items to the concert programme.

The final item – ‘The Bold Gendarmes’ by Offenbach, when the brother’s sang together, received huge applause.

Dursley’s contribution reflected the breadth of their current repertoire.

The classics were well represented with ‘The Pilgrim’s Chorus’ from Wagner’s Tannhäuser, ‘Laudate Dominum’ (Mozart) and ‘Alleluia’ (Mascagni) . On the ’lighter’ side, the audience enjoyed ‘Widecombe Fair’, ‘The Sloop John B’ and ‘Grandfather’s Clock’.

The Medlay of songs from ‘Les Misérables was well received and the singing of the Fishermen’s Hymn (Eternal Father) to close the concert with Wynne and Mark joining the choir was a fitting end to a concert in aid of the RNLI. Needless to say in view of the brother’s heritage, the encore was ‘Gwahoddiad’ sung in Welsh by the choir and ‘The Evans Boys’.

The Compére for the evening was Geoff Twentyman hot foot from presenting his programme for Radio Bristol and he kept events moving smoothly in his own inimitable way.

The Concert, as noted, was in aid of the RNLI and all were delighted to hear that the early indications were that in excess of £6,000 was raised.

The Choir’s next commitment is very different. It will sing during the morning of 26th April in the new foyer of the WWT at Slimbridge. Why not come along to that.

The Annual Concerts approach. They will be held on 16th and 17th May in the Lister Hall at the Chantry Centre in Dursley.

The Guests will be ‘Havoc’ a ladies Barbershop quartet that has won competitions in the UK and abroad.

Tickets will be available soon through all the normal sources.