POPULAR MUSIC

Evening Star, Issue 20592, 18 September 1930, Page 2

POPULAR MUSIC

LYRIC CHOIR’S SPONTANEOUS SINGING ATTRACTIVE VERSION OF ‘ THE REBEL MAID’ It was indeed refreshing to hear Montague Phillips’s singularly melodious ‘ Rebel Maid 1 performed with such spontaneity and charm as was imparted to the work by Mr Leech’s Lyric Choir in the Town Hall Concert Chamber last evening. Mr Leech had an excellent choir of over eighty voices, and several highly competent soloists, and his production of this promising material was attended with happy results. The choir was well balanced, for the conductor did not allow the ladies to dominate unduly. There was a notable unanimity in both purpose and expression that made it obvious that considerable care had been exercised in tho preparation of the work. It was natural that the audience should be delighted, The musical score and the performance were ’ very much to popular taste, readily • understood, and easily appreciated, and the demands for encores increased as the programme proceeded, a fact that indicates the development of interest. The action of ‘ The Rebel Maid ’ occurs in the latter part of the seven-, teenth century, on the eve of the landing of the Prince of Orange in England. To an attractive romance Montague Phillips has set a particularly melodious and colourful score. Few light operas and fewer grand operas lend themselves to concert performances, but in this case the transition amply sustains the charm of the original work. : And it was quite apparent from, the manner in which the choir tackled the opening chorus last evening that all the performers were fully alive to its possibilities. There was remarkable zest and spirit mfused into each choral selection from the opera, which was interpreted with becoming brightness and colourful effect. Tho finales to ( the three acts were particularly well' done, especially the second, which reached a brilliant climax. The soloists were Miss Valda M'Curdy, Miss Noni Davidson, Mr James Simpson, Mr W. Ruffell, Mr L. H. Stubbs, and Mr T. D. White. The solo music is all of the ballad type, and presents little difficulty to the experienced singer. But, on the other hand, indifferent soloists would ruin tho performance. Mr Leech made a happy choice on this occasion. Miss M'Curdy has a voice peculiarly suited to music of this kind, the lilting quality that is heard to such advantage in a rippling ballad like * Sunshine and Laughter.’ Mr Ruffell and Mr Stubbs both have very pleasant baritone qualities that were also well attuned to their respective solos. Miss Davidson was associated with Mr Simpson in the bright ‘ 1683 ’ duet (a delightful collaboration), and her solo, ‘ I Want My Man to bo a Landlord,’ was sung with crispness and charm. Mr White and Mr Simpson did not have so much to do, but what they did they did well Tho whole performance was extremely enjoyable. The first half-hour of the programme was devoted to ‘ The Revenge,’ a setting by C. Villiers Stanford to Tennyson’s magnificent conception _ of Sir Richard Grenville’s stand against the Spanish fleet. Tho performance was not verjr interesting. While the work was quite creditably presented, it lacked a certain forcefulness of expression that was essential. On occasions tho singing was too matter-of-fact.’ This fault was not so obvious as the music was developed, but the merit of the performance was not nearly commensurate with that of ‘ The Rebel Maid.’ Technically, it was well done.