Master mason to sing for lodge repairs

May 21 2010 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

TENOR Robert Crowe is a man on a mission!

With singers from Scottish Opera, the Dunning man has helped various worthy causes, raising thousands of pounds for charities throughout the country.

On Saturday, May 29, a concert in Perth is for a project closer to home.

He explained: “For the second year I am the Master of Lodge St John N0 174 Dunning which was opened in 1780, and I need to raise £17,000 for repairs. So I have put together a night of Gilbert & Sullivan in Perth with accompanist David Mackie, a Gilbert and Sullivan expert.

“David has conducted more than 600 performances with links to D’Oyly Carte as chorus master and associate conductor, has conducted The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and toured all over the world.”

The programme will feature highlights from Gondoliers, Pirates, Ruddigore, Sorcerer, Mikado, Utopia, Iolanthe, Pinafore and Yeomen of the Guard.

Singers performing with Robert and David will be soprano Kate Morrell, mezzo soprano Janet Henderson, contralto Helen Brown and bass David Marsh.

Robert continued: “Gilbert & Sullivan both had very strong Masonic connections and Gilbert who was Scottish on his mothers side was descended from the Devon Gilberts who married a sister of Sir Walter Raleigh.”

The venue for the 7.30pm concert is 5 Atholl Crescent, Perth, which Robert described as “Renowned for its historic mural paintings and wonderful acoustic.”

It is open to the public for the concert by the kind permission of the Master and Brethren of Lodge N0 3.

Tickets are £10, available from Concorde, Scott Street, Perth, on 01738 621818.