APOLLO SINGERS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 59, 3 December 1941, Page 10

APOLLO SINGERS

Male Voice Part Songs

There was but a meagre attendance of the public at the concert given in the Concert Chamber of the Wellington Town Hall last night by the Apollo Singers under the direction of Mr. H. Temple White. This male voice choir is suffering from the same lack as many other choirs in this country —youthful voices. Without the element of youth vocal quality suffers to some extent, however efficient the training. Yet the Apollo Singers are earnest in their intent, and gave creditable readings of soine of the part songs, notably that very beautiful one of Elgar’s "The Wanderer,” with its haunting elose harmonies, the rousing robust "Tally Ho,” a choral arrangement of Frank Leoni’s popular song, Mr. White’s own sound arragement of Homer’s “Requiem” (lyrics by Robert Louis Stevenson), and the puissant chorus, “Song of the Bow” (Aylward, arranged by Pointer). Other part songs were arrangements of songs, Schumann's “The Wanderer,” “Oh No, John,” Dvorak's "Songs My Mother Taught Me,” “Green Grow the Rushes O,” and the part songs "A Persevering Vocalist” (Matthews), an effort in comedy, “Tiger, Tiger” (Gibbs), “Summer Night” and'“Queen of Love” (Bantoek). On this occasion the singers were associated with the Welimgton Girls’ Choir, who sang rather sweetly the Bach air “My Heart Ever Faithful,” "The Little Sandman” (Brahms), “Spring Wind” (Tinman), “Five Eyes” (Gibbs), "Go, Lovely Rose” (Lee), "Lady Moon” (Jenkins),' “Snowflakes” (Jenkins), and "Sleep, My Princess” (Mozart). Miss Jocelyn Walker was the solo pianist of the evening. This gifted young performer played with commendable, spirit the rapturous “Rhapsody in C” of Dohanyi, sparkling music with a strong modernistic trend. As an encore, piece Miss Walker played a setting of Rimsky Korsakoff's “Flight of the Bumble Bee,” a composition best heard on the violin. Her other numbers were “Windmills” (Moran). “Nocturne” (Grieg), and “Papillons" (Rosenthal), all admirably played. The only vocal soloist was Mr. Voyee, whose vocal quality was scarcely that demanded by such an exquisite number as (he aria. "Ah, Moon of My Delight” from Liza Lehmann’s song cycle, “In a Persian Garden." which calls for advanced artistry. His other number was “She is Far from the Land.” Mr. Harold 'Whittle was the accompanist of soloist and choir._ Miss Walker accompanied the Girls’ Choir.