Page 203 - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Coverage Book 2023-24

excellent choir. Local lass, Kathryn Rudge (Marilyn-blonde and
sparkling like a bauble) has a voice as rich and fruity as the

mellowest of Christmas puddings. Her rendition of the
Greensleeves inspired What Child is This was especially
spellbinding. A spell that is dissolved by the down-to-earth interview
she gives immediately after in a charmingly everyday Scouse voice.

Ma Kanneh-Mason performs the reverse transition: poised, word-

perfect (you couldn’t fault her diction – her enunciation was next
level) and, goddammit, looking so young and beautiful, she is more
likeable when she goes off-piste to chat to Kate than she is reading
from the script.

The last place you’d expect to be Whamageddon-ed is at the
Philharmonic Hall (and apparently you can’t claim it if it isn’t the
original recording.) Nonetheless, the evening is concluded with a
bosa nova version of Last Christmas. La Rudge’s operatic tones
weren’t quite suited to the style, I felt, but there’s always one choc in

the box that isn’t to your taste and the audience gave a
spontaneous cheer at the unexpected gift at the bottom of the
stocking.

The Spirit of Christmas is playing on Thursday 21 and Friday 22

December and, indeed, every Christmas. Go on, treat yourself.