San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus - The Brits Are Coming
Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, March 22, 2019
For their penultimate performance of their 41st season, the SFGMC salutes the music and culture of our friends across the pond in an evening both stately and dignified, but with the typical clowning and impishness we've come to expect. In the glorious setting of Davies Symphony Hall, a five-piece band accompanied the Chorus and they presented songs from all genres, ranging from classical, folk ballad, pop and rock.
The show opened with cheeky humor - an appearance and blessing by Queen Elizabeth, her long train sporting a collection of royal corgis. Of course, "God Save the Queen" adds an appropriate S and honors the 300 queens waving behind her. "Loch Lomond", a traditional Scottish song and "Danny Boy", an Irish folk ballad represent the earliest musical influences of the evening. Lin Manuel's satirical "You'll Be Back" from Hamilton has King George III lamenting the colonist rebellion.