Feels Good! Let's do it again...

If last night’s Oriana rehearsal, the first for 2024, is any indication of things to come, then those things are certain to be fantastic! The Choir kicked off rehearsals for Dancing Queen: A Tribute To Abba And Queen in fine form, hitting the ground running and full of energy. Seasonal Music Director Elisabeth Wallis Gaedtke took us on a sight-singing journey through many of the pieces that we’ll be performing for you in May of this year. These songs are so well-known, so well written, and so universally loved. Even on a first sing-through, the choir sounded pretty darn good. Rehearsal pianist, Annabelle Clucas, was right in the groove, and she was able to channel that inimitable ABBA and Queen ‘feel’ into her accompaniment. There was an almost palpable feel-good vibe in the room for the duration of the session.

This is Oriana’s third stab at putting Dancing Queen together. Covid got in the way of the previous two attempts. But you can’t keep a good idea down, and third time’s the charm, as they say. And every cloud has a silver lining. In this case, it’s the fact that since Oriana previously endeavoured to get Dancing Queen up and running, ABBA have released Voyage, their first album of all new songs in over forty years! This has enlarged the reservoir of music from which we are able to draw for the repertoire, enabling the choir to bring you new ABBA music for the first time since the ABBA’s initial hiatus, and Oriana’s inception. The Oriana men’s arrangement of “Just a Notion” will be really something to look forward to.

Long term Oriana followers will recall that the Choir has performed Queen material in the past. We sang ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ in the 1970s Revue, way back in 2008. It was a real highlight, and one of the fondest performing memories for many choir members. Similarly, performance of ‘Somebody To Love’ was hugely enjoyable. The prospect of re-visiting these, and other Queen classics, is very exciting!

Last night, it was a genuine pleasure to be able to welcome fourteen new and returning members to Oriana. Fourteen sopranos, altos, tenors and basses, who will surely play their part in making Oriana’s first season for 2024 a truly memorable one, and who will become, one and all, cherished and valued members of the Oriana family.

If you love the music of these legendary performers (ABBA and Queen, that is!), you really won’t want to miss Dancing Queen. It’s sure to be one of the Sunshine Coast’s musical highlights of 2024.

Performance dates:Saturday, May 11, 1.30 pm and 7.30 pm – Stella Maris Primary School, Maroochydore. Saturday, May 18, 1.30 pm and 7.30 pm – The J, Noosa.

For bookings and information, go to www.oriana.org.au