ROYAL MALE CHOIR

Evening Star, Issue 22516, 8 December 1936, Page 14

ROYAL MALE CHOIR

LAST CONCERT OF YEAR MISS RAWLIHSON'S CHARMING SINGING The last major event of the musical year was the Royal Dunedin Male Choir concert at His Majesty’s last evening. Neither the programme nor the performance was particularly arresting, although much of the music was quite pleasant and satisfying. Most of the works would have been given more point if the members of the choir liad paid less attention to their scores and more to - their conductor. If choristers persist in singing down instead of up and out, their music must inevitably suffer. Apart from that, it suggests inadequate rehearsal or is a poor tribute to their ability to memorise their work. Dr Galway, according to an announcement in the programme last night, will shortly be saying farewell to those ranks of bowed- heads. It is a pity, for he has been very largely responsible for establishing the remarkable popularity the choir has enjoyed in the last few years. And, by the same token, that popularity will certainly decline if the choir does not bestir itself. As on previous occasions, last evening’s programme was packed with a variety of incidental items, a policy that can be carried too far in that the choir may be relegated to the background. As a matter of fact, the honours here unquestonably went to Miss Bertha Rawlinson, whose very charming singing was one of the few really refreshing features of the evening. Something provocative or challenging in the composition of these programmes would be definitely welcomed. Vigorous as it is, there is nothing particularly challenging about the ‘ Sailors’ Chorus,’ from ‘ The Flying Dutchman,’ with which the choir opened, or, to be more accurate, there was nothing particularly challenging about the performance. The old song by Dr, Blow that followed, Arnold Williams’s arrangement of ‘ The Self Banished,’ was better, and was effective in its more restrained passages. Stuart Young’s ‘ Road to the Sea ’ did not have the requisite emphasis, and the quieter section was vague and obscure. Percy Grainger’s jolly setting of Kipling’s ‘ Widow’s Party ’ could have been given with more gusto, but improved as it was developed. Coupled with this was another Grainger work, ‘ The Hunter and His Career,’ which presented few difficulties. _ The most interesting feature of this was the intriguing accompaniment for two pianos, played by Miss Ruth Moore and Mr* Colin Oliver. The second portion of the programme opened with the Myles Foster ‘ Ode to Music,’ which was satisfying in a negative sort of way. The Hugo Jungst part song, ‘ Spin 1 Spin 1 ’ sung unaccompanied produced the choir’s best performance in its humming climax. Here the lovely melody was exquisitely expressed. True to tradition, the choir concluded with the Fletcher arrangement of Ring Out, Wild Bells.’ This was spiritedly sung, and there could have been no excuse if it had not been. The choir must know this work backwards, but still found it necessary to concentrate deeply on the scores. Miss Rawlinson’s singing was the delight of the evening. After a rather indifferent opening she achieved a brilliant climax in Schubert’s ‘ Erl King,’ a great dramatic test for any singer, and particularly a woman. The triblogue effect was vividly managed. Miss Rawlinson also sang the Strauss ‘ Devotion,’ Wilfred Sanderson’s ‘My Dear Soul ’ (seldom heard these days), the old Manx folk song, ‘ Myla Charaine,’ and a captivating old Irish air, ‘Spanish Lady.’ Miss Rawlinson sinks Iter whole individuality into the mood of her song, and in each of these finely accentuated her rare interpretative gifts and keen musical intelligence. It was unfortunate that in the Strauss and Schubert the piano should have been left open. Mr Oliver played a brilliant accompaniment to the Schubert, but, with an open piano, it could not but be exaggerated, and was naturally out of proportion. Miss Rawlinson returned for an encore and the more critical members of the audience began to fidget. The difficulty was solved when a courageous gentleman in the back row of the circle rose to his feet and without further to do called out: “ Close the piano, Colin! ” Which Mr Oliver did, and the succeeding accompaniments were, in their proper place. Miss Ruth. Moore and Miss Molly Runnerstrum presented a delightful novelty on two pianos in the dancing and, rhythmic ‘Scherzo in E Flat,’ by Saint Saens, and played it very deftly and incisively. Miss Julia Holmes is a promising young violinist, but as yet the ‘ Scherzo Tarantelle ’ of Wieniawski is somewhat advanced for her. That celebrated show piece provides a searching test of the technique of tb© world’s greatest violinists. In her recall and other pieces Miss Holmes was much more at case., The Ten Have ‘ Cavatina ’ was charmingly played, and the first muted encore was also a happy little effort. The soloists from the choir were Mr W. E. Mills, whose pleasant tenor quality was admirably set in the light ballads he sang, and Mr J. A. Paterson, who made a welcome reappearance after a too-long absence. Master Herbert Claridge’s sweet boyish voice gave Spobr’s ‘ Rose Softly Blooming ’ unusual appeal, and in this and his recall (‘.I Love the Moon’) he produced an attractive quality over a wide range. The choir was accompanied by Mr Oliver, who has established himself as one of its most valuable assets', and Miss Holmes by Miss Muriel Ironside, who was quick and tense in her coordinating with the soloist.