A NEW CHOIR.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20919, 28 July 1933, Page 9

A NEW CHOIR.

RETURNED SOLDIERS ENTERTAIN. TIIE FIRST PERFORMANCE. Among the many social activities of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers' Association there is an orchestra which has performed very creditably on Jiany occasions. Now the association has formed a male choir which made its first appearance, supported by the orchestra and individual artists, in the Jellicoe Hall last night. The attendance was fair, but judging on the £-st performance, the choir will attract much larger crowds as its life proceeds. Wisely it did not attempt any works of a particularly heavy nature, but adhered to well-known numbers that | were tuneful and comparatively easy. All the voices blended well, and the fault of over-emphasis by one section, so frequently met with in newlyformed combinations, was notably lacking. The Dasses were rich and the tenors subordinated their parts to the good of the whole. As time goes on the choir should make itself a | factor in the musical life of the city just as, in Dunedin, the returned soldiers have planted a. firm musical stake in their city. The programme opened with a march, "Wagner" (Troutman) and

Suppe's overture, "Carnival," and, although the hall was too small to allow a proper appreciation of the orchestra's efforts, the playing was good and well co-ordinated. "Land of Hope and Glory" (Elgar) and the "Viking Song" (Taylor) gave the choir two excellent opportunities for showing its ability, and later a VaughanWilliams arrangement of "Loch Lomond," with descants, produced a very fine tonal qualty. The stirring "Soldiers' Chorus" (Gounod) and "Alabama," arranged by Edmonds, were well presented, but the best work was sung last, "Comrades in Arms," so greatly favoured by other musical bodies in Christchurch. The orchestra was heard again in Moszkowski's "Bolero," a number requiring true precision and a particular regard for light and shade. An operatic selection from Offenbach (arranged by Ansell) allowed for a demonstration of expression and a bracket, "Pizzicato from Delibes' 'Sylvia,'" and "The Yeoman's Wedding Song," provided two more excellent numbers, not difficult, but played, particularly in the first instance, with I surprising delicacy. Mr J. Sutherland I chose "The Border Ballad" as a vehicle for his pleasing baritone, and Messrs J. Shaw and W. J. Spratt ( were well balanced in the duet, "Love and War." Mr J. L. Tennant, a bass who won fame at the last Christchurch competitions, and who has been heard to advantage on many occasions, sang "The Vagabond" (Vaughan-Williams) excellently, and later joined with Mr Sutherland in "Watchman, What of the Night?" (Sargent). Mr Shaw sang "Onaway, Awake," very pleasingly, and Mr A. G. Polkinghorne gave a good performance of "Out on the Deep." He has a fine natural voice. There were many encores, and the audience, though small, greatly ap- I predated the whole performance, Mr Victor C. Peters has the conductorship of the choir, and been provided with some excellent material As usual his control is most capable and well noted by all members. Mr H Glaysher conducts the orchestra, which is improving with every nerformance. Mlbs Aileen Warren was, as always, a sympathetic accompanist. During an interval the president of the association, the Rev. F. T. Read, expressed the thanks of the executive to the conductors.