The Bantam of the Opera Choir

[BlueAnorak]

Special thanks to the Bantam of the Opera Choir who were magnificent singing Abide with Me yesterday at the Cup Final

A poignant memory for me personally.

City had beaten Charlton 5-1 that day to get promotion back to the top flight and the joy of the scale of the win with promotion simply evaporated as I returned to the car and I put the radio on and news of the Bradford City fire was being broadcast - I just cried. Again when the pictures were shown on the news later.

I cried again as we won at the memories it invoked of the ĵoy of success contrasted with the devastation of tragedy.

Poignant with a capital P.

 

[bluemc]

They were very good, credit where it is due. Takes some guts to stand up and perform to an audience of 83k, and they smashed it out of the park.

 

[stonerblue]

Yeah, really got rhe place rocking....

 

[Alfie Budd]

Bantam of the Opera is the choir’s name. Not ‘Bantum’

Very impressive. Should have more contributors like them at finals.

 

[BlueAnorak]

Thank you for the corrections. Thread first post updated.

 

[BlueAnorak]

After the game yesterday, the joy of winning the Cup was counterbalanced with post match memories from the Charlton game..

It made me think.

 

[Norbiton]

Yes, best version of the Cup Final anthem ever. You kind of got the point of why it was there rather than it just being a tradition that had to be observed. I was choking up a bit too.

 

[WEMBLEY76]

I spoke with a few of the choir outside the ground before the match yesterday.
They were excited and thrilled about the opportunity to sing at such a high profile event,though they did sing to the king last year.

 

[Eaststander1]

I remember walking on the Bradford City pitch at Valley Parade after Trevor Morley had given us the draw there back in 1989, and i just stood there motionless gazing at their new stand ..... the horror i had felt four years earlier as i watched people desperately trying to escape that fast spreading fire on the tv news report just came flooding back.

56 people lost their lives, and at least another 265 were injured that fateful day.

The Bantam of the Opera choir at Wembley on Saturday, as you rightly say, were excellent.

 

[Ivan Lentil]

I always enjoy Abide With Me at cup finals more so this year given that the recent trend for having an attention seeking solo singer butchering it was shelved and a normal choir sang it instead

I thought they did a great job

 

[Earlyriser]

If I may just highlight something that some of you who attended might not be aware of. The man who sang the solo, Ian Moorhouse, suffers with Parkinsons. How brave was he and perhaps an inspiration to others

 

[BlueAnorak]

They have a Facebook page if anyone wishes to pass on their regards.

 

[Chris Holmes]

Hopefully this works. View from my seat.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

They did a really good job. The hardest things to deal with in stadia are reverb, the Doppler effect and the crowd singing behind the beat.

It’s why so many soloists in particular “butcher” their first attempts at doing it.

 

[manclad]

I always enjoy Abide With Me at cup finals more so this year given that the recent trend for having an attention seeking solo singer butchering it was shelved and a normal choir sang it instead

I thought they did a great job

The FA Cup Final next season (2027) will be the 100th anniversary of when Abide With Me was first sung at the Cup Final .(Arsenal Vs Cardiff City 1927).
I would love for City to be one of the finalists next year to be part of that anniversary.
(Just like the City Vs Spurs Final in 1981was the actual 100th FA Cup Final).

 

[Earlyriser]

A little more of the backstory to Ian. As a youngster his talent for singing was identified by his teacher who advised him to tell his parents that he would really benefit from singing lessons. When later the teacher asked him if he had spoken to his parents Ian replied he had but they told him they could not afford it. On hearing this the teacher offered to give him lessons on Saturday morning free of charge. How fortunate some children have been to have such dedicated people in their life

 

[Celeste]

I found it very emotional, more so than usual somehow (very lucky to have been there on so many other occasions). It’s a connection to all those others who’ve sung it before us going back such a long time. The choir were absolutely fantastic

 

[Stephen.spcostman.co.uk]

Sang loud and cried buckets. We love you Ben Peters

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

My Grandma (mum's side) passed away a month before the 1981 Cup final, I was 18.
The small number of us in attendance at Southern Cemetery Crem did an awful job of trying to sing Abide With Me as the vicar sung with enthusiasm, while we wiped the tears from our eyes and sniffed up our runny noses.....
A ridiculous thing to expect a small crowd in mourning to sing such an uplifting anthem.

So when it came to Wembley a few weeks later, I made sure I had a copy of the hymn that was given out and sung it with pride and gust in tribute to my Grandma, to make up for the shit show that was attempted at her funeral. Whenever I hear the song, always make me think of her.
Well done to the Bantams of the Opera and a great name too.

 

[levets]

Yes, best version of the Cup Final anthem ever. You kind of got the point of why it was there rather than it just being a tradition that had to be observed. I was choking up a bit too.

Very personal and emotional for me. We had this Hymn at both my dads and my younger brothers funeral. I make sure I’m in my seat for Abide With Me and I sing it loud and proud. Saturday was excellent.