MALE VOICES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 139, 14 June 1935, Page 3

MALE VOICES.

OPENING CONCERT.

ROYAL AUCKLAND CHOIR.

AN ENJOYABLE PROGRAMME

An interesting feature of the Royal Auckland Choir's first concert of the season, given in the Town Hall last evening, was the inclusion in the programme of several part-eongs, recently presented to the members by various friends of the society, and which have not been sung at these concerts before.

Despite the unfavourable weather conditions there was a large audience which enjoyed to the full a programme which was botil varied and satisfying.

The concert was attended by the Governor-General, Lord Galway, and Lady Galway, who were accompanied by Sir Standish O'Grady Roche. Seated with the Vice-Regal guests were the president of the society, Mr. J. F. Ewen. and Mrs. Ewen.

The choir was in good strength and the singers, some 70 in number, gave performances well up to the high standard set in past years.

The programme opened with' "The Song of the Jolly Roger" (Chudleigh Candish), a first performance by the society. This was a happy choice, for not only was the work a most attractive vocal composition, but it was also given one of the best performances of the evening, the work of the choir being marked by crisp attack and release, good tone and clear articulation of the words. Tt might be mentioned here that in this respect the choristers set an example throughout the evening to the vocal soloists. By way of contrast to the vigorous opening number, the choir next sang Pin.suti's delightful part song, "In This Hour of Softened Splendour," a truly beautiful performance in which the tenors were particularly good. The well-known hymn, "Holy, Holy, Holy," «ung with reverent feeling, was given as an encore number.

There followed Kncken's rollicking whimsicality, "Our King of Hearts," in which the fine bass voice of Mr. C. Way was heard to advantage in the solo work. An arrangement in parts by Tschirch of Schubert's lovely lieder "By the Sea" (Am Mecr) gave the choristers an opportunity to display their usual delightful legato singing. There was in this, however, a tendency to sing too loudly at times—as a solo the marks of expression never rise above a pianissimo. This was another first performance by the choir.

The vocal march "Hark! the Trumpet Calleth"»(Dudley Buck) was delivered with rhythmic vigour, the basses being very fine. "An Evening Lullaby" afforded another opportunity for tasteful legato singing. "Far Away," sung with a moat effective "bouche ferniee" background, was greatly appreciated, and a fine concert was brought to a close with Hatton's part song, "The Village Blacksmith," sung with decision and a nice regard for effective contrast.

Dr. W. E. Thomas, the conductor, maintained firm control throughout and obtained from his singers performances notable for quality of tone, tasteful expression and even balance.

The assisting performers were: Miss Dawn Harding, mezzo-soprano; Mr. Geoffrey Colledge, baritone; and Mr. Fred Bowes, cornetist. Miss Harding, who has a voice of rich timbre, opened her contributions with a sympathetic rendition of Bantoek's "The Lament of Isis," and followed this with the same composer's "In the Village." At her second appearance. Miss Harding gave a Coleridge-Taylor bracket, "The Rainbow Cliild" and "The Island of Gardens." In response to warm applause Miss Harding also sang, as recall numbers, "Fireflies" (Armstrong Gubb) and "From the Land of the Sky-blue Water" (Cadman). This charming young singer has an exceptional voice, but her words, for the most part, are indistinguishable at the far end of the auditorium.

Mr. Geoffrey Colledge's fmo resonant baritone voice was heard in Cowen's virile setting of "Onawayl Awake," Macfadyen's declaratory "Inter JTos," "Brian of Glenaar" (Graham), and two recall numbers, "King Charles" and "The Trumpeter." Here, again, the audience heard a young singer with very fine voice, but lacking, apparently, in ability to articulate his words so that they might be understood.

The only instrumentalist was Mr. Fred Bowes whose programme numbers were the cornet solos "Facilita" and Stephen Adams' dear old "The Holy City." Mr. Bowes, who was more successful in his second number than the first, was warmly received and had to play two extra numbers which were much appreciated.

Mr. Eric Bell was a most sympathetic accompanist.