Triumph for choir

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33859, 3 June 1975, Page 10

Triumph for choir

“Fabulous. One of the great choirs of the world.” That was the accolade given the Auckland Dorian Singers after their recital at Munster, West Germany, last week. The tribute came from an impeccable source — Mrs Henna Kramm, conductor of a world-class choral group, the Munster University Madrigal Choir, which toured New Zealand in 1973, reports C. A. Cooper, London correspondent of “The Press.” The New Zealand singers admitted they had been apprehensive about, their appearance at Munster, before the biggest and most discerning audience of their European tour and in the hometown of the madrigal choir which had acquired a top reputation through its ; overseas sponsorship by the 'Muster Council and the

Federal German Government. The Dorian conductor, Peter Godfrey, said that the singers met the challenge magnificently. They had put their ability, on the line by including the formidable “Singet Dem Herren” by J. S. Bach in the programme, which had been carefully assembled to include secular and. sacred, ancient and modern works. Mr Godfrey said that there had been particular enthusiasm for the New Zealand pieces, “Five Credo Extracts,” by David Griffiths, and “The Love Song of Rangipouri,” by Douglas Mews. The reputation these had been gathering during the tour was enhanced. But undoubtedly the I choir’s triumph had been its presentation of the Bach work. Mr Godfrey said that although it had been taken somewhat faster than the usual German fashion, it had produced -a rising tension in the discriminating audience of more than 700

;music Lovers who eventually] “exploded” into tumultuous; applause. The singers have shaken ■ off a series of minor, but un-i comfortable, illnesses that i had beset them, and were ini the peak of condition for thei Muster appearance. . This has been reflected,; too, in their off-stage per-’ f.ormances of • changing’ trains, a daily multiple; manoeuvre for the fast-'; moving choristers. Mr Godfrey said: “With! the team work we have | evolved we can all be out of; a platform with our heavy' 'baggage in one minute and al 'quarter.” I This accomplishment will I be far from superfluous in i England, where, after wrap-; ping up its engagements in! Amsterdam and the Hague,; the choir will face an i itinerary of 12 recitals in 10’ cities within 14 days. The first will be at Marlbrough College, a public school in the small market town of Marlborough, 70-odd; miles West of London, on; Saturday.