RETURNED SOLDIERS’ CHOIR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18512, 24 March 1922, Page 6

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ CHOIR

Q.hc Returned Soldiers’ Choir gave a concert in Burns Hall last evening. The hall was comfortably filled, and those present Must have been well satisfied with the music provided. The conductor (Mr V. Paget Cade) has his choir under excellent control, end it is also well served by having Mr C. A. Martin as accompanist. The numbers presented by the choir lost evening were mostly of the martial character, and these rendered in stirring style. “The Soidiers Chorus” (Gounod) was well given, and this piece was followed by a part song, Wha Hue.” This number was given with due fervour, but the singers slightly lost touch with each other on one or two occasions. ‘The Song of the Bow” (Aylward) °, e . the. successes of the evening, and . H ttle Admiral,” for solo and chorus— Mr A. J. Cooke being the soloist, and singv* mg wilh fine effect—was also given in a thoroupiily praiseworthy manner. The part song “In Vocal Combat,” was nicely rendered and so was also “Bacclianolian Chorus,” but the singing of “Viking Song” (Coleridge layiOri. and "Song of stho Northmen” (Speaks) was rather patchy, the tenors being inclined to flatten in the first-named seleo tioiu A humourous .part song, “Tickling was given with excellent light and shade, and the humour of another part song, “Alexander” (Brewer), was also well brought out. There were five soloists, and that the audience appreciated their singing may be judged from the fact tliat everyone was encored. Miss Helen Grant’s first number was the difficult ’Sing, Sweet Bird” (Ganz;. Miss ormit has a sweet light soprano, and she sang the music very creditably. In the second half her first number was “Poor Wandering One” (Pinafore). The musio of tliis piece -was better suited to Miss Giant s voice, and she had to respond to another encore. Miss Agnes Guy sang "A Spirit Flower” (Campbell-Pipton)—a familiar competition piece—and “Morning” (Speaks> Her voice is cf mezzo-soprano quality, and she has it under good control. Mr F.'Haig’s light tenor voice was heard to advantage in “Lorraine” (Sanderson), Mr P. Anderson gave a creditable rendering of “Tbe Yeoman’s Vedding March” (Poniatowski), and Mr A. H. Sutherland handled "Oberon in Fairyland (Slater) with commendable insight. The concert was opened and closed with the singing of the National Anthem.