CHORAL SOCIETY

Evening Star, Issue 20023, 14 November 1928, Page 11

CHORAL SOCIETY

| CONCERT VERSION OF 1 CARMEN AN AMBITIOUS EFFORT A performance of the concert version of Bizet’s beautiful and vivacious opera, ‘ Garmon,’ was given by the Dunedin Choral Society in His Majesty’s Theatre last evening. This version (in which, incidentally, the opera necessarily loses a great deal of its beauty) constituted an ambitious efforl for the society; in fact, one that would be almost impossible for any society to accomplish, and it must be said, or the performance last evening, that th< members were not quite equal to th< occasion. Though quite satisfying u: many respects, the performance wai sadly lacking in others. It was trans parent]? clear that the singers wen unfamilia not with the music as notes, but with the meaning; and thai more intensive rehearsal would have redeemed it from the rank of mediocrity However, all concerned entered intc the performance with notable spirii and sincerity, and there were _ frequenl manifestations of pleasure from the audience. Dr Galway conducted, ant exercised a good control over botl choristers and orchestra, which lattei was led by Mr J. A. Wallace. The opera was presented in the forn of a short cantata. A judicious selec tion of the music had been made, ant it was arranged in effective sequence Some popular excerpts were omitted as giving too great a share to th( soloists, and some music of little intrinsic value was included on accouni of its dramatic importance. The singing was thus nicely apportioned. The soloists on this occasion wore Miss Mina Caldow (mezzo-soprano) ; Miss Helen Gard’uer (soprano), Mr W Harrison (tenor), and Mr Howard Foster (baritone). In the title role, ss Caldow sang with charm and effect though shd was lacking in the lusciousness of voice and the allure one naturally associates with the vocal delineation of the part. Possessing a warmtoned voice of excellent range, Miss Caldov sang very correctly and with due regard to the finer points of expression Her interpretation of the celebrated ' Habanera ’ air was distinguished by evenness in pioduction and effective emphasis of the rythra of the song. The gypsy song, ‘ Till Tambourine and Gay Guitar,’ was another aii which Miss Caldow sang expressively. Mis° Gard’ner made a welcome re-ap-pcarance on the Dunedin concert platform in the role of Micalea. Miss Gard’ne' sang very attractively throughout the evening, and her pretty soprano voice was heard in several excellent settings. Mr Harrison has a light tenor voice of pleasing _ quality, but was not convincing in bis interpretations. The little Mr Foster had to do as Escamillo he did extremely well His delivery was forceful, and his voice full and resonant. Mr Foster’s singing of tho familiar ‘ Toreador’s Song ’ was very warmly received and insistently encored. A._ great deal of the singing was given in quite a dispassionate manner, and' most of the soloists sang with little or no regard to ' the dramatic sense of the music. Miss Gard’ner was tho _ only one who sang with any conviction in this respect. . The chorus attained notable success in several of the concerted .pieces, particularly in tho song of the cigarette girls, in which the tone was splendid. Tho choruses were given with the utmost verve, but a preponderance of sopranos and altos affected the balance somewhat The men’s voices were relegated to obscurity, and the chorus occasionally lost pitch. The first work of the _ orchestra in * The King ’ was shockingly out oi tune. Hence it was the greatest surprise to find the opening of the overture very efficiently and competently played.. Later bn there were occasional lapses, compensated for, however, t< some extent by flashes of brilliance, particularly in the accompaniment tc Carmen’s castenet song. The twr flutes were ” source of strength anc beauty throughout.