Midweek Musical Delight at St Mary in the Baum!

Every Wednesday at 12:30pm, enjoy the Queen’s Award-winning Toad Lane Concerts at the stunning Grade I listed St Mary in the Baum church, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ.

Admission is just £6. As a “not for profit” initiative, your entry fee and donations directly support talented musicians, the historic venue, and music resources.

For details, contact Dr. Joe Dawson: 01706 648872.

Doors open 12noon, concert starts 12.30pm – 1.30pm.

• • Wed 28/05/2025
    Dmitra Ananiadou violin (Universities of Athens, York & Manchester) & Richard Whalley piano (Universities of York and Harvard)

Here are the next few weeks to whet your appetite.

2025 June

• • 04 Jun
    Eccles Community Choir – Director Angela Rowley
  • 11 Jun Telemann Baroque Ensemble
    Peter Collier harpsichord, Alastair Roberts flute, Elaine da Costa & Sarah Snape violins, John Goodstadt viola, Roger Bisby cello
  • 18 Jun
    Ying Cheng piano (Tunghai University Taiwan, RNCM)
  • 25 Jun
    Saxophone Duo: Alvin Wong (Hong Kong & Northwestern Universities & Royal Conservatoire Antwerp) & Calvin Wong (Iowa, Indiana & Texas Universities)

Previous Performance Reviews

Wednesday 21 May 2025
Louise Taylor soprano & Jonathan Ellis piano (RNCM & Manchester University)

Popular local soprano Louise Taylor has always loved music but didn’t begin singing solo until the age of 24. Since then, she has performed over 30 lead roles in light opera and musicals, sung the soprano solos in various oratorio and had great fun fronting a dance band. She fitted all this in while enjoying a career in newspaper and magazine journalism, most recently as editor of Cheshire Life for 11 years until 2020, when she decided it was time for a more relaxed pace of life. She brought a range of her musical interests together in a delightful programme at St Mary in the Baum.

The opening aria, Hear ye, Israel from Mendelssohn’s Elijah is one of the great soprano numbers, requiring high notes and commanding presence; a gentler approach was appropriate for O for the Wings of a Dove and On Wings of Song by the same composer, all of which was comfortably within her grasp.

Then a trip down memory lane with operetta songs My Homeland, and You Bring Back the Past from The Land of Smiles by Franz Lehar, a role relished along with the same composer’s Vilia, from The Merry Widow.

She was partnered today by award-winning pianist Jonathan Ellis who works extensively around the NW as soloist, accompanist, repetiteur, and chamber musician. Not only did he accompany superbly but also allowed himself some nostalgia with favourite piano solos of his early days – Valse in A Flat Major, Op 69, no 1 by Chopin and The Rustle of Spring by Sinding, played with affection and panache.

The final set was devoted to songs by George Gershwin. Someone to Watch Over Me, The Man I Love and Love Walked In, were all tremendous hits for Gershwin, not forgetting Summertime from his all-black opera, Porgy and Bess, which he never heard performed because of his premature death at 38. Louise and Jonathan clearly revelled in bringing this composer’s music to the concert stage … as did the audience.

A joyful encore I could have danced all night from My Fair Lady closed a splendid spring lunchtime concert from these popular artists.

Wednesday 14 May 2025
The Nightingale Singers – conductor Ken Greaves, accompanist Brian Milligan

The Nightingale Singers were founded in 1987. They are based in Bowlee, Middleton and since 2004 have been directed by Ken Greaves during which time they have performed in the North of England, Midlands and North Wales. In 2010 they did a three-concert tour of Madeira, and in 2013 a concert tour of Brittany.

They were accompanied today at the piano by Brian Milligan, who also sings in the tenor section; the concert was presented in an engaging and informative way by Suzanne Mather, one of the sopranos.

According to the Book of St Albans (1486) the collective noun for nightingales is a ‘watch’, perhaps as in keeping watch with their nocturnal singing. Some of the leading nightingales of the area helped to keep watch today and they all made the most of the fabulous acoustic of the Grade 1 listed St Mary in the Baum church designed by the renowned architect Sir Ninian Comper.

The nightingales had a demanding programme in a mixture of styles. There were popular numbers such as the opening spiritual, Rock-a my soul, sung in mixed voice parts with piano obbligato accompaniments. Alongside these were serious items from throughout the history of music, often sung a capella (unaccompanied), such as Morley’s My bonny lass she smileth, from the late Renaissance, Sanctus from the German Mass of Schubert and Locus Iste by Bruckner from the nineteenth century.

These were interspersed by soloists stepping forward from the choir with favourites from stage and screen. We had a moving duet from Alyson Brailsford and Jennifer Workman, I know him so well from Chess; Liz Creagh gave a heartfelt and characterful Don’t cry for me Argentina; soprano Freda Farnworth with (appropriately) A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square; and tenor Martin McLoughlin heartily revived the Harry Secombe favourite, If I ruled the world.

The finale involved the assembled company with audience participation in California dreamin’ – after all it was a watch of nightingales!

If you are interested in joining The Nightingale Singers, or engaging them for a concert, please contact Ken at kcgreaves1@gmail.com

Wednesday 07 May 2025
Margaret Ferguson soprano and Maria King piano

These two extraordinary performers are popular regular soloists at St Mary in the Baum. Both are highly trained and able to cross the apparent divide between serious and popular music. To have them together in a recital was terrific.

Soprano Margaret Ferguson came to the UK on a scholarship from Ghana for higher study at the RNCM and later at the European Mozart Academy in Poland. Now based in the northwest she also directs the Manchester Gospel Choir and teaches Ghanaian drumming, singing and dancing. She is as at home with jazz and popular styles as with classical songs and grand opera.

Pianist Maria King also trained at the RNCM and was an accompanist there for 8 years. She forged a successful career as a classical pianist and entertainer and regularly performs on cruise ships.

Both have been involved in charitable work such as Music for Hospitals, for many years.

We began with Lehar’s Vilia from The Merry Widow, the popular soprano favourite set the mood, and the standard high. Then we toured a variety of styles with Bononcini, Bellini and Verdi where Margaret displayed the richness and expressive range of her operatic skills, all ably accompanied by Maria.

A change of mood with the charming eighteenth century When Daisies Pied by Dr Arne led to some powerful opera and oratorio arias by Handel.

We moved into the lighter repertoire with The Pipes of Pan from Arcadians, Can’t Help Lovin’ dat Man from Showboat (where a real blues feel came through) and the hysterical One Meat Ball by Zaret and Singer, a captivating number not a usual bedfellow with the classic soprano repertoire! But Margaret embraced that too. Finally, the hilarious Alto’s Lament by Zina Goldrich (by request) brought the house down.

Both Margaret and Maria have a fantastic rapport with their audience. Their concerts bubble with joie de vivre and their superb abilities grace any style.

April 2025 Concert Reviews

Click HERE to see the April 2025 concert reviews

March 2025 Concert Reviews

Click HERE to see the March 2025 concert reviews

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