LUTON GIRLS’ CHOIR

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29021, 9 October 1959, Page 13

LUTON GIRLS’ CHOIR

Final Concert In Citv

The Majestic Theatre was filled last evening with people who had come to say farewell to the Luton Girls' Choir and its director, Mr Arthur E. Davies.

This was the best concert which the choir has given here. The girls were in excellent voice. Most of the colds seemed to have cleared up. and the short rest from continual travelling seems to have had a beneficial effect. The singing was much brighter in tone and there was more elan in the performance. This was a “request” programme—not that it differed very greatly from the programme which has been sung on the other nights—but the brighter and better numbers made up the greater part of it, and only at the end were some of the more glutinous items heard. In the first half. Gluck’s “Che Faro” was delightfully sung with very beautiful tone and expression. “Skip to My Lou.” and the echo song. “Snowy Mountain.' were rendered with vigour, brightness, artistic phrasing and expressive lilt. “We’ll Gather Lilacs" had beautifully blended tonal quality, and the balance within the choir was excellent throughout, although the amplifier for the contralto section was somewhat on the heavy side throughout the evening. “Pedro the Fisherman.” together with “Wouldn't It be Luverly” from “My Fair Lady,” the Fantasie on Nursery Rhymes, and a comical version of “Charlie is My Darling" gave plenty of effervescence to the second half of the programme.

A Highland sword dance brought colour and grace to the proceedings and was splendidly performed by two of the girls with lightness and perfect precision, and the vocal accompaniment was most pleasingly sung.. The choir still has not found “That Chord." Perhaps, as Mr Davies might have said, it got left behind in Dunedin.

The solo items, particularly , “One Fine Day” from "Madame Butterfly” and the serenade from “The Fair Maid of Perth," were pleasingly and clearly sung, but. it would have been interesting ! to hear some of these voices i without the doubtful aid of the' microphone. -C.F.B. i