CHORAL CONCERT

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27435, 23 August 1954, Page 3

CHORAL CONCERT

CHRISTCHURCH HARMONIC i SOCIETY The Christchurch Harmonic Society gave its second subscription concert of this season to a very large audience in the Civic Theatre on Saturday evening. Mr Victor Peters conducted, the choir and orchestra with his customary skill and finesse. Such clear and incisive directing is as pleasant to witness as it must be easy to follow. Twenty years ago, when one first had the pleasure of hearing the Harmonic Society, it made a deep impression with its singing of the "Choral Bances" from Borodin's “Prince Igor.’’ It performed this work again at this concert and was pleasant to hear it again, both for old time’s sake and also for the general excellence of the interpretation. The 3YA Orchestra, led by May Hannan, played splendidly. The woodwind opening was really good. Of course, the orchestra was not large enough to keep a perfect balance throughout this work, and there were times when the brass and the percussion outweighed the strings, but it was, nevertheless, a most praiseworthy performance. The chorus sang with appropriate atmosphere. The. words were, frequently inaudible, but, as the work would sound so much better in . Russian than in English, this was no disadvantage in the general effect. Towards the end the tenors seemed to bs feeling the strain a little and the rhythm occasionally flagged., Mr Clifton Cook and Miss Elizabeth Preston played Vivaldi’s Concerto in A Minor, and this was very well received by the audience. Mr Cook’s violin tone was always interesting and musically controlled, and Miss Preston’s work on the very small pianoforte was clear and precise. Both players were in accord in interpretaC. S. Lang’s setting of “Lochinvar" was well performed by both orchestra and choir, but was a disappointing work in many respects. It did not seem that the atmosphere of the poem had been adequately caught in the i music. The shock of Lochinvar’s

entry, tils challenge by Ellen’s father, and the chase at the end all were somewhat tamer than they would have been in reality. However, the work lost nothing in performance, and in balance, precision, and tone it made for pleasant listening. The completely delightful work on the programme was Handel's "Mirth and Melancholy." One greatly hopes that the Harmonic Society will give another performance of this soon. There were times in it when there was not all the grace and high polish this choir usually brings to a work, but it was always interestingly satisfying. The sopranos in the choir were heard to excellent advantage in the opening chorus, "Haste Thee Nymph.” and in "Straight Mine Eye hath Caught New Pleasures.” Their tone was fresh and lively and their phrasing was splendid. The chorus effects were carried out in thoroughly workmanlike fashion, with full and rich tone. The tenors in the second chorus, “Come and Trip It,” 'did not have the flexibility of the sopranos and the "light fantastic toe” trod the boards somewhat heavily. The basses in the choir were at times a bit too ponderous for this music—particularly in “These Pleasures Melancholy Gives." There were extremely beautiful soft effects towards the end of "Or Let the Merry Bells Ring Round." One of the finest choruses was “Populous Cities Please Us Them.” It was highly atmospheric and the part-singing was most efficient in every way. , . . The orchestra, too, was quite adequate in its part throughout the work. The strings in particular played with excellent balance and sense of expression. The orchestral Interlude was played with deeply-touching feeling. Mrs Boyd Wilson sang the soprano arias and recitatives with a new free-

dom and expansion in her voice. Her mellow quality of voice was excellently suited to the whole work and particularly to the gracefully-flowing melody of “Let Me Wander Not unseen.” The recitative “And When The Sun” and the aria “Hide me from Day’s Garish Eye” were completely delightful. Mm Duthie sang the contralto aria "Sometimes Let Gorgeous Tragedy” with sympathy and understanding. The unsteadiness of her tone was, no doubt, caused by nervousness. There is an attractive warmth in her voice. The work was. received with enthusiasm, and all concerned deserved the acclamation that was accorded. —GJFJB.