Schoolboys’ Concert At University

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30561, 2 October 1964, Page 12

Schoolboys’ Concert At University

Pupils from the Christchurch Boys’ High School, directed by Mr Clifton Cook, performed at the University yesterday afternoon. The programme began with the senior treble choir singing a setting of the Londonderry Air, and “And Shall Trelawney Die”' by Dr. Vernon Griffiths with good tone and clear words. The phrasing in the second one was well supported and shapely. A senior solo group singing “Hear Me Ye Winds and Waves,” a “Serenade” by Schubert, and the folk-song “Ho-Ro My Nut-brown Maiden," made a very favourable impression with their excellent resonance and smoothness of tone and with their understanding shown in their interpretations. Richard Greager was the soloist in the Schubert work. The Handel was thrillingly sung. Christopher Doig, who has a well-produced voice of considerable promise, sang “0 Lovely Night” by Landon Ronald and “Go Lovely Rose” by Roger Quilter. His phrasing was shaped with expressive use of nuance and the warm quality of his voice suited the songs. Richard Greager - sang three songs from Vaughan Williams’s “On Wenlock Edge.” He sang with very attractive tone of lyric tenor timbre and excellent control of technique, and he gave artistic and stylistic performances of mature standard. The accompaniments were

- played by Mr Cook at the piano and a string quartet, , John Chisholm and Jim Siemon, violins, Brian Shillito, i viola, and Allan Chisholm, i ’cello. The playing had. good i intonation and precision with ■ artistic sensitivity in expres- ■ sion. i John Hay was the flute soloist with the string orchestra in a “Melodie” by Gluck. Unfortunately there was considerable discrepancy ■ between the flute and the I orchestra in pitch. The string orchestra ended ; the programme with three • variations by Arensky on a ■ theme by Tchaikovski. There - were occasional lapses in in- • tonation but in cohesion, in ■ rhythm and in phrasing the ■ playing was very commendable. —C.F.B.