Liedertafel Shows Careful Training

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31976, 1 May 1969, Page 16

Liedertafel Shows Careful Training

There was a large audience in the Caledonian Hall last evening for a concert by the Christchurch Liedertafel. The choir showed, in close attention to fine detail, how carefully Mr Keith Newson has trained the members in expressive ensemble singing. The quality of the voices was full and round, of vibrant vitality in robust music, and of gentle and mellow timbres in songs requiring tender interpretations. Clarity of words was always of high standard, and the phrasing was sensitively shaped. Mr Newson chose his tempi with discretion, and obtained an attractive rhythmic flow in all the songs.

The most testing singing was heard in a set of 11 gypsy songs by Brahms, each of which presented problems in expression, rhythm and colour. The contrasts in atmosphere were cleverly created with subtly varied tonal qualities, and the gay abandon of the gypsy dance forms was brought out with crisp and stirringly rhythmic singing. Schubert’s charming song. “The Night,” was sung with careful balance and with beautiful blending of delicate tonings, and the Sanctus from Cherubini’s Requiem in D minor made an effective beginning to the programme, •

There was plenty of variety in the choir’s items in the second half of the programme, but in musical content they did not come up to the Brahms songs. Mr .Colin Ayres sang two songs by Quilter which suited his pleasant lyric tenor vqice, and Mr Alexander Robson sang “So, Sir Page,” from the “Marriage of Figaro," and “Myself When Young,” by Liza Lehmann, with praise-' worthy vocal control and interpretative skill. Annelies ' and Cornelius Pekelharing were the guest soloists and sang “Graceful Consort," from Haydn’s “Creation,” and duets from “Don Giovanni” and from Purcell’s ‘Taustnlus the Be-i trayer.” They both have very good voices, excellently produced, and cleverly blended for duet work. • They sang with good appreciation of

style and with musical finesse. Mr H. Filer was an excellent accompanist both for the choir and for the soloists. His contributions to Liedertafel concerts are of great value. At the beginning of the programme the choir sang “Long Day Closes” in memory of Messrs Ernest Bartlett and Philip Hume, members of the Liedertafel for many years. Both were over 90 when they recently died.— C.F.B.