CT GAY MEN’S CHORUS GOES INTERNATIONAL

To celebrate its three decades of musical excellence, the Connecticut Gay Men’s Chorus has chosen to invade the international scene.  As if one spirited tribute wasn’t enough to jingle your bells, the CGMC is taking on two:  ABBA and Queen. Both groups, one from Sweden and one from Britain, topped the charts way back in the 1970’s and still are a powerful influence today.

The Swedish song group ABBA started off their masterful career by giving their home country its first triumph by winning in 1974, at the Dome in Brighton, UK at the prestigious Eurovision Song Contest.  While the group endured its problems when the two married couples that comprised it hit marital walls, revived interest in their sounds occurred with the advent of a trio of movies and musicals:  Muriel’s Wedding, The Adventure of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Mamma Mia!  ABBA’s hit “Waterloo” was selected as the best song at the Eurovision song Contest in 2005.

Not to be outdone, the CGMC will also pay homage to Queen, the British rock band formed in London in 1970, one that started off as heavy metal and toned down over the years to pop and rock.  Their world wide success was sealed with their contributions Sheer Heart Attack and A Night at the Opera.  In 2002 Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody was voted the “UK’s favorite hit of all times” in a poll conducted by Quinness World Records British Singles Book and two years later it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.  The rock threatical version based on songs by Queen premiered in 2002 and ran until 2014.  “We Will Rock You” became the longest running musical ever to play at London’s Dominion Theatre.

There is no doubt that as Artistic Director of the CGMC, Greg McMahon will incorporate the best of these two iconic groups, taking from their diverse songbooks everything from “delightfully campy songs to some incredibly moving ballads.”  He guarantees “there is something for every musical taste in this show” and encourages all who attend to “enjoy a cocktail or dinner before or after the show” at any of the multitude to restaurants and bars that exist in the heart of New Haven.

For tickets ($25-30), call the CGMC at 203-777-2923 or go online at www.ctgmc.org.  The performances are Saturday, April 30 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 1 at 4 p.m. and will take place at their new home, the Co-Op Theater, 177 College Street, New Haven.

ABBA/Queen is definitely the spring concert you won’t want to miss! The CGMC is sure to do its unique spirit and spin on every song…transforming you into a Dancing Queen for sure.