MALE VOICE CHOIR

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19459, 5 November 1928, Page 8

MALE VOICE CHOIR

THEIR THIRD CONCERT.

A CHOICE PROGRAMME,

WELL GIVEN

Christchurch has been well served of late with musical festival from its native talent, but the season would be incomplete without a final concert from those connoisseurs of song, the Christchurch Male Voice Choir. This they gave at the Municipal Concert Hall on Saturday night under the dexterous and precise baton of Dr. J. C. Bradshaw. They were assisted by the Cathedral Choristers and two lady artists. The appeal of the programme was universal. Balance was evident both in arrangement and execution and the large audience was not given two successive presentations of the same genre. It is hardly necessary to add that nothing cheap finds a place in the programme. The "Sailor's Chorus," a part song from "The Flying Dutchman'' (Wagner) served as introduction, and nautical atmosphere suddenly gave place to a tender confession of love in Lee Williams's setting of the part song "To Celia." Gounod's "All Hail Thy Dwelling" (Faust) is such a delicate work that he who attempts it must give his best or fail. Mr Ernest Rogers, who sang it, did not fail. The madrigal, "Down in a Flow'ry Vale" (Festa) followed, with a combined rendering by the choir and'ehoristers. Miss Lillian Hanham's opening number was "Piano, Piano, canto pio" (Der Freischutz) by Weber. It is a tender piece of imagery and Miss Hanham was successful in creating the .correct atmosphere, though she did not attack it witli the firmness shown in the later numbers. To commemorate the Schubert centenary, special attention was paid to his work. His setting of "Tho Lord is My Shepherd" was given very effectively by Messrs Morgan; Hinton, Sumner, and the choristers. "Hark, Hark,, the Lark" (Schubert), sung by the choristers with Master Jack Joynt in the solo role, was one of the gems of the evening. Miss Florence Munro contributed the immortal "Ave Maria," which'' he had a hand in composing, as a violin solo. Scotland was not forgotten and the' creation of Robert Burns, "My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose" was sung to Bantock's music. A number much in season, "When Father Votes" (Bridge) closed the first part of the programme. The second opened with an old favourite, "Simon the Cellarer" (arr. by Newton). 'The Old Superb" (Stanford), which followed, smacked truly of the sea as Newbolt designed it should. Mr R. Lake took the solo part in "Apres un Reve" (Faure) suited tho soprano voice of Miss Lillian Hanham

to perfection, and she received woU_ deserved applause. She gave quez Vous" (Godard) and this had to be followed by a third selection before the audience would desist, lhe P» song "Lullaby" . (Brahms) «•»« lently rendered; it sounded so sleepyThe "choristers raised the* two of Schubert's creations ' » *™?" and "Cradle Song" and did them justice. Miss Florence Munro s '«««££: tation of "Danse Hongroisc" (BrohmJ as a violin solo was well received and the audience demanded more. iwo jolly old English part songs In MerrJ Mood" (Wood) and "Oh! The Noble Duke of York" (arr. by Byng Johnson) made a fitting finale to a choice programme. It will be repeated tonight. ____^____