MALE VOICE CHOIR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 6 December 1938, Page 5

MALE VOICE CHOIR

I | REQUEST PROGRAMME PRESENTED POPULAR NUMBERS HEARD AGAIN A programme selected by popular choice from the Choir’s repertoire was given in the School of Music last evening by the Nelson Male Voice Choir. A large audience was very warm in its appreciation of the Choir’s rendering of numbers which have proved popular at previous concerts. This being the final concert of the year the Choir seemed to enter into the songs with a more carefree spirit, and an occasional slip in tunefulness and attack were atoned for by the heartiness of the interpretations. The “Laughing” chorus has rarely been done better, and Maunder’s "Border j Ballad” was sung with splendid rhythm. Mr C. Plum scored quite a hit with his solo in the sea shanty, “Johnny come down to Hilo,” and another sea shanty was presented The solo in “Carry me back to old Virginny” was also well done by Mr li. File. “On the Rend to I Mandalay” was another chorus where | the Choir excelled in rhythm, while j “Sylvia” was an acceptable lighter i number. Excellent descriptive singing was heard in both “The Nun of Nidaros” (Buck) and “The Sea Fight” (Paliard). Several other choruses and a hymn (“Lead Kindly Light”) made up a diversified programme in which the work of the Choir was a tribute to the conductor, Mr F. Mitchell, and his painstaking training of it. The supporting solos were well chosen. Captain D. Norris-Hill confirmed the favourable impression made at his previous appearance on a concert platform in Nelson. His first bracket was r * chosen for the dramatic nature of the )r songs, and included Schubert's famous “Erl King.” This work makes high dels mands on both the singer and the pian--11 ist. calling not only for good technique )■ but also for considerable interpretative ability. The performance was full of a merit, the three characters being de- , lineated quite well, the singer making good use of his powerful resonant voice. £ In “When the King went forth to War” (Koeneman) the contrasts were effectively brought out. The beauty of u “Great Isis! Great Osiris, hearken!” from “The Magic Flute” (Mozart) was ‘ rendered with dignity. A humorous little encore, “A Tale of Two Frogs,” s ' | capped ofF the group. Captain Norris- ’■ , Hill was also heard in the solo with 1 | chorus. ‘The Little Admiral.” by Stan- • ford, which was sung with a rollicking ’’ j spirit. His second bracket included lovers’ songs. The singer was at his ) best in the legato passages of Handel’s * “Where e’er you walk.” in which he made the most of the simple beauty of ‘ the song. “I will not grieve” (Schus mann) and "A Pleading” (Tschaikowsky) provided interesting contrasts and were capably handled. Two encores s were given. Two pianists who made an excellent G impression with a duet at a previous s concert were welcomed again last night. They were Mrs P. Vining and Miss G. |Hodgson, who played brilliantly, work--1 ing up to forceful climaxes, in the overture to “William Tell.” by Rossini. The calm dignity of Bach’s “Jesu. Joy of Man’s Desiring,” was splendidly rendered as an encore. The duettists also gave a strongly rhythmical interpretai tion of a difficult piece, Liszt’s “Rhapsodic Hongroise No. 14.” in which the technical work was of a high standard, s A brilliant encore was Cyril Scott's - "Dance” The accompanist. Mrs Vining, camej