Choir on way home

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32917, 16 May 1972, Page 10

Choir on way home

The Auckland University Festival Choir finished the European leg of its world tour on Friday night, with a concert to a packed house in Dusseldorf. The choir sang in England and the Netherlands as well as West' Germany while in Europe, and was given an enthusiastic reception in all three countries. “Particular interest has been shown in our singing of English madrigals and the works of contemporary New Zealand composers,” said the choir’s conductor, Professor P. Godfrey. “Douglas Mews’s work, ’Ghosts, Fire and Water,’ based on a poem about Hiroshima, has created enormous interest wherever it has been performed. Choral conductors throughout Europe have requested copies of the work.” Professor Godfrey said that he had received many favourable comments in Europe about the choir’s uniformity of tone, choral discipline, and excellent intonation. The clarity of diction and tone of the sopranos had won special praise, he said. The way in which the choir had been received offstage had also been particularly pleasing, said Professor Godfrey. “I feel that the students have done a great deal to make New Zealand better known. They have been billeted throughout Europe, and I’m sure that many of the friendships made will be lasting ones.” The choir left Zurich for Singapore on Saturday. After two concerts in Singapore on Sunday, the choir left for Auckland, and is due home today.