LIEDERTAFEL CONCERT

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28447, 29 November 1957, Page 7

LIEDERTAFEL CONCERT

Well-Balanced , The Christchurch Liedert\el was “At Home” to a very largß audience of friends last evening. A well-balanced and varied pro- j gramme was enjoyed, and re- i ceived with enthusiastic acclama- j tion. i

Mr Keith Newson conducted the choir with finesse and the members responded flexibly to his requirements in dynamics and shading. In fact, the choir was in very good voice indeed. Robust songs came with stirringly resonant tone, well balanced and full-bodied. Intonation was good and there was never any difficulty in hearing the words. Mr Newson has now managed to get a tone from each section of the choir which blends happily with all the others and this has given the ensemble a greater richness in timbre. The softer choruses were particularly charming and, for the most part, were sung with a fine delicacy of balance and of tonal shading. Rhythmically all the work was of a high standard. Two new works, both by Christchurch composers, were sung for the first time on a Liedertafel programme. Mr John Ritchie’s “To Daffodils” aptly captures the spirit of Herrick’s poem. It contains well-knit writing with neat and deft modulations.

Mr Charles L. Martin chose some words by Eileen Duggan to set as “A Maori Lullaby” specially for the Liedertafel, He showed not only a sensitive approach to the words in his music, but also a knowledge of what sounds really well from the Liedertafel. The writing is well spaced to suit the texture of a male voice chorus, and the work is both pleasant and markedly effective. Miss Beryl Gough was the guest soloist and, in the first part of the programme, sang songs by Gabriel Faure. She has a high soprano voice of attractive quality. It is not a large voice but it has resonant vitality. She phrased intelligently and sang pianissimo passages with excellent control. It was interesting to hear later some Hebridean songs which were away from the beaten track. Mr Ernest Jenner played her accompaniments with completely delightful artistry. Mr Grahaeme Johnson sang two arias by Handel with ringing tone, excellent clarity of melodic line, good enunciation, and lively rhythm.

Mr George Macann sang “Myself When Young” by Lehmann and “A Little China Figure” by Leoni. He has a baritone voice of very pleasing quality. His enunciation is clear except for a prominent use of the customary distortion of the diphthong “I.” Mr John Forrest, accompanying himself with attractive skill on the guitar, scored great success with his singing of German, Hungarian, and Austrian Folk Songs. He has a very flexible and well-controlled tenor voice capable of giving a wide range of colour, and he has the ability to make every syllable always perfectly clear. Mr H. Filer was an excellent accompanist for the choir. This was a highly-successful concert and made a fitting ending to the Liedertafel’s season for this year. —C.F.B.