MALE VOICE CHOIR

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 36, 11 August 1933, Page 5

MALE VOICE CHOIR

SUCCESSFUL CONCERT

Lovers: of 'choral singhlg!-:wei?ej treated by the Wellington Male Voice Choir ia the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall last night to. a programme of'outstanding variety and interest. It was the Choir'j second concert of the present season, and (there is no doubt that tiiere Has been 4 definite improveiflent in their work. Thia reflects' the greatest credit on. the conductor (Mr. John Bishop), under whoso guidance the choir have developed to a well-disciplined and well-balanced corn* bination. The concert must be counted among Mr. Bishop's most pronounced successes, and although the hall was not filled, those who braved the weather were not slow to appreciate enthusiastically the conductor's musicianship and control, and the artistic performance of the solo* ists and the choir itself. . . The programme had been carefully, prepared, and even the most fastidious could not but be well pleased with it. Part songs by the choir, "Who Sails With Drake?" .(Chudleigh-Candish), and "Morning Serenade" (Ludolfs), were stimulating opening numbers. The latter, sung with baritone and tenor obbligato, was especially effective. The principal soloist of the evening was MiSs Helen Gardner, a soprano well known tp Wellington audiences. Miss Gardner sang several English and French folk songs in appearing in dresses characteristic of tk» periods represented. She has an excellent voice, and sang each and all her numbers with expressiveness and sureness of tone, and generally combined all those qualities * which are calculated to satisfy the critical. Miss Gardner possesses the faculty, of interpretation to a marked degree, and is always artistic. At all her appearances she was warmly received and encores were numerous. Mr. Bishop acted as accompanist for Miss Gardner. Mr.. W. Binet Brown, the well-known basso, was heard in a number of Negro spirituals, .with choir accompaniment. Mr. Brown has a rich voice, and his presentation of "I Got a Robe," "Nobody Knows De Trouble I've Seen," "Peter Go Ring-a Dem Bells, and "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," showed understanding ami feeling. A worthyinclusion in the programme were- instrumental trios by Misses Prue Lewis (violin), Elspeth Barton ('cello), and Judith Gieseil(pianoforte). Their numbers Were Trio in F, Movements I and II (Niels Gade), "Bolero," and "Polo Gitano" (Thomas Breton). Individually and- collectively these young instrumentalists proved their technical as well as their interpretativa ability. . It is difficult to select any one of the choir's pieces as being clearly outstanding from the others. Judging by the reception accorded them, perhaps the numbers "Come. Gentle Night" and "At Andernach In Rhineland" may fairly b« singled out for special reference. 'The pianissimo work in "Come, Gentle Night was particularly effective. Other renderings by the choir wire "Hope the Hornblower," "Scots, Wlia Fae," "On the March." "A Franklvn's Doaae." "Danca of the Gnomes," "Oft in the Stilly Night.' and the Soldiers' Chorus from "Faust. The choir's accompanist was Mr. Ales Mill, L^A.P.