AUCKLAND CHOIR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23996, 20 June 1941, Page 5

AUCKLAND CHOIR

HIGH STANDARD REACHED The oOth season of the Royal Aticklanrl Choir was opened very successfully last night, when a most enjoyable concert wns given in the Town Hall concert chamber before a large audience. The conductor, Mr Harry Woollev. had every reason to be well satisfied with the results achieved by the choir, for a high standard of choral singing was maintained throughout the generously long programme. Outstanding among the many partsunns was Dimhill's highly effective "It Was a Lover and His Lass," sung with delightful lightness and rhythmic vitality Clear part singing, combined with absolute unanimity, made a chorus from Hach's "Peasant Cantata" and Cooke's 'Strike The Lyre" equally enjoyable. A setting by Or W K. Thomas ol Dickens' "Hear Mv Prayer" and an encore number, "0 Sorrow Not," were noteworthy for some excellent pianissimo singing. "The Word Went Forth" from Mendelssohn's

"Festegesang" was pointless out of its context, and flic! not have the necessary fullness, brilliance or vigour, qualities which were also lacking in Rossini's "The Hough Riders " In "A Song of Trafalgar," a large scale work by Cobb. =1 raightl"i « ;mllv written and of no particular distinction. the choir, with Mr .1 (I'M n I lev and Mr II Reynolds a- ==.< >11)i-1 <. main'ained the interest throughout. Here Mr Alan I'ow's accompaniments were especially vniua b!c. Miss Ina Hosworth contributed two groups of violin solos, all most artistically played. Constance Manning gave a dramatic rendering of "Santuzza's Aria" (Mascagni) apcl an excellent performance of Strauss' "Serenade." Most enjoyable was the baritone singing of Mr. Leo Foster.