B.H.S. celebrations end with concert

Press, 12 May 1981, Page 6

B.H.S. celebrations end with concert

The Christchurch Boys’ High School Centennial concert, at the Christchurch Town Hall, May 10 and 11. Reviewed by Clifton Cook. The Christchurch Boys’ High School concert brought to a close the celebrations for the School’s centenary. The auditorium, filled both nights with a delighted audi-. ence was, for a few days, a magnificent centre for the celebrations. The concert was marked by the same dedicated) and magnificently • prepared' organisation. that highlighted each function: It expressed the joy and.pride of all who came to honour the occasion, either as listener or performer. . - . ‘ .

The length- of the programme did nothing to dull the enthusiasm of the audience, for it not only revealed an awareness of musical achievements, but also, from the performance of the younger artists, a high belief in the school’s musical future. i v

The centennial orchestra, which distinguished the official opening hy its playing of the Egmont overture, accompanied the choir in the impressive Gordon Jacob arrangement of the National Anthem, followed by choruses from opera by Gounod and Verdi, conducted by Frank Dennis and Allan Packman. >

The school choir and orchestra, both joined by a big number of old boys, produced an impressive and dignified sound; it was a fine start for the concert. The Altiora- Peto Trio,, playing the allegro from the Arensky Trio in D Minor, was a masterly performance of lyrical beauty from young musicians already distinguished for their performances.

David Gilling, violin; Christopher Kane,. cello; and the pianist, Graeme Gilling, set the atmosphere for the superb oboe playing by Ronald Webb, principal oboeist of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. With his accompanist, Michael Lawrence, the sheer brilliance of the Holford “Dance of the Gnomes” was captivating. Operatic solos beautifully accompanied, and conducted by Ellen Doyle, were sung by the principal artist of the concert, Christopher Doig, a lyric tenor now resident at the Linz Opera, Austria. I was thrilled by his rehearsal last Thursday and it was indeed a shame that his obvious great artistry and fine voice could not have been revealed in its finest glory because of a throat infection. His Lehar solo later in the. programme was in fine Viennese style.

“Carnival of the Animals" by Saint Saens with the orchestra conducted by Ellen Doyle was very finely played. Mark Seeker and Michael Lawrence, pianists, Nicholas and Bryan Sandle, solo bass and cello, and verses composed for the occasion, read by Brian Aitken. In a light and bright second half, led by Brian Marston, the Dixieland jazz of the Old Boys’ Band reflected the enthusiasm and joy of the occasion.

Sketches by David McPhail in “A Century Of It,” lampooned the masters in his inimitable manner, convulsed the audience and left me “one eyed” by his imagination. Richard Hore, at the electric organ, played Eric Coates’s Knightsbridge March with fine effect and Elric Hooper, accompanied by Brian Falloon was, as usual, splendid in his Cole Porter songs. The school band, conducted by Allan Packman, was in fine form playing the Richard Strauss “Festival Music” — a most impressive number. The very moving and uniquely beautiful school song, “Altiora Peto,” superbly orchestrated by John Jennings, has been marked by many moving performances throughout the celebrations.