ICYMI: ChOPiN, Ikoyi Club Evening of Classics kicks off gloriously
The maiden edition held on Sunday
June 6, 2021 at The Rotunda, Ikoyi Club and it more than lived up to its
billing as everyone in attendance had an overly good time so much so that
Delano, popularly known as LD, promised that the next one would be even much
better as only the best is good enough for the Ikoyi Club.
Slated to start by 5pm and end
6.30pm, the guests were transported into the classical mood promised by the EoC
by preamble performances which had Victor Ashaolu reciting Amazing Grace on the organ followed by Biodun Falode reciting also
on the organ the two pieces: Radio
Nigeria Is Back and Oni Dodo, Oni
Moin-Moin.
Their performances were
introduced by Delano, and they didn’t disappoint but rather outdid themselves
with their dexterity on the organ thereby setting the pace for what was to come
as Delano then kicked off the event proper by introducing to the stage, Bolaji
Martins, Entertainment Chairman, Ikoyi Club for his welcome address.
Speaking after it, Ademola Mumuney,
Chairman, Ikoyi Club, said, “This Evening of Classics is part of what we felt
we should bring up so that every Ikoyi Club member enjoys their membership.
There’re a great deal of innovations we have for you entertainment-wise. We
want to step things up a little bit higher and try to bring back what used to
happen such that even if it’s not the same, it’ll be very close to it.”
Rounding up his keynote address
with a passionate appeal for sponsorship of the EoC by the members and their
companies, he concluded finally by recognizing the presence of Nollywood icon,
Olu Jacobs, who was also in attendance.
Taking back the microphone,
Delano expressed his pleasure at the EoC which he labeled as for matured minds
and then introduced the first official performance, Jesu Joy Of Man’s Desiring by Biodun Batik on the trumpet and
Falode on the organ.
Their set moved the EoC along at
its exciting pace and kept everyone in need of more which the artistic director,
Angela Loks, then came on stage to reveal as a vocal solo by the beautiful and
charismatic soprano, Ifunanya, of two pieces, Climb Every Mountain from the popular musical movie, Sound
Of Music, and You’ll Never Walk
Alone, the Liverpool Football Club anthem.
Not to be outdone by her when it
was his turn for his vocal solo, John Eclou faultlessly rendered My Way by Frank Sinatra and O Sole Mio.
In-between Ifunanya and Eclou’s
solos, there was a medley of three classical hymns by Batik and Falode which
Delano was so delighted with because Batik didn’t rehearse for it yet he hit
all the right notes at the right time.
Getting the audience involved,
Delano requested those of them that would like to sing to step up and do so.
The result was a couple of members
taking everyone’s breaths away with their performances which was akin to those
of professional musicians.
The evergreen piece, Don’t Worry, Be Happy, was the next song
performed and it brought another dimension to the EoC as its rendition was led
by the guitar.
Delano got everyone thrilled with
a game of guess the national anthem with different national anthems played.
Femi Pedro, Ex-Deputy Governor,
Lagos and the wife of the Vice-Chairman, Ikoyi Club were among those who got
the answers right.
The game came to a stop with a
patriotic performance of the Nigerian national anthem by all the guests.
A saxophone solo of the smash
hit, Duduke by Simi prepared the way
for the artistic director, Loks, to also perform with Delano introducing her as
a worthy soprano and she proved it with a captivating rendition of I Feel Pretty.
Then the beautiful Ifunanya and
Eclou came back with a duet of Time To
Say Goodbye though people didn’t want to as they were having so much but
they were consoled by the fact there would be more EoCs.
Comments
Post a Comment