RETURNED SOLDIERS’ CHOIR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18556, 17 May 1922, Page 3

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ CHOIR

Those who on© time woro a uniform have by no means lost cast in tho eyes of the fair sex, nor has the interest in themdecreased. That was manifested last evening by tho very full house at His Majesty’s Theatre, where the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Choir gave its first concert of the season. It was noticeable that by far the larger portion of the audience in tho circle consisted of ladies, though many of the sterner sex were also present. Before the programme had proceeded very far it became evident that still further improvement in the direction of part singing had befen made, a fact upon which both the choir and its conductor, Mi* W. Paget Gale, are to be congratulated. The choir, as represented last night, consists of between 60 and 70 voices, end everyone seems to be an honest contributor to the success of the singing. To be paradoxical, there are no “silent performers.” The items selected were chosen from such music as is easily within the reach of the choir, and is yet of a class. "While the vocal work was decidedly creditable, it was in the singing of robust songs that the choir obtained the best results. Wlien it becomes a question of hnor work the merit was not so prominent. Tnat is, however, only what might be expected, and it will wear off in time. The concert commenced with the choir singing am arrangement of the National Anthem by Mr W. Paget Gale, and the “Soldiers Chorus from “Faust” was revived and sung as well as it has been previously. It is m this kind of music the Soldiers’ Choir is heard at its best. Probably the best , sung of the part songs given was “Who Sails With Drake,” there being only one little passage towards the end that could bo t° ua “ an ? fault with. The choir entered heart and soul into the spirit of tho song, and gave a fine vigorous and confident rendering of it. In a somewhat different direction tnat is, in tho lendering of music that requires rather more delicate handling Lorraine, Lorraine, Lore©”, was the most conspicuous success. The song calls for an exercise of artistic judgment to a fcertain extent, and the call was very creditably met. The chon appeared to get a grip of the theme; and understanding tho purport of the s °^ ac ' quitted itself commendably. The Roman War Song” was by no means an indifferent performance. The opening «Was decidedly well sung, but thereafter it became P a * cl W till near the end, when the choir the swing of the music again. The Middle Watch” was creditably sung, the greatest drawback to success being a difficulty in getting the softer passages. , The , seems to experience a difficulty in suhdui g the voice. But fbr this the song was quite well rendered. The solo -art was effectively sung by Mr A. G. Cooke. Tho Chorus of Spirits and Hours” was well rendered, particularly in the forte passages, and its success was enhanced by the solo singing of Mr W. N. Satterthwaito. In “Because the choir only obtained a fair measure of success. It was a “Laughing Chorus, that found most favour with the audience, and bad io be repeated. The final effort of the choir was a “Fantasia On E 11 * 18 *) Aar ® 1 ; into which were introduced God Save, the King,” “Mariners of England, the Arethuse,” “Hearts of Oak, ®. ul<3 S?' tannia,” and "Heres a Health Unto His Majesty.” Miss Eva. Scott sang songs very nicely. Her rendering o Spring Fancy” won for her a recall, as did “One Spring Morning.” It was in the encore item to this that Mias Scott was heard at her best. Mr W. Strang gave a creditable rendering of “To-morrow.” Mr W. H. Mason sang "The Song of - the Cretan (for which a more robust voice w an absolute necessity), and Mr E. E gave “The Rebel,” all being recalled Mr Frank Bennett. gave a very good rendering of Chopin’s “Polonaise Heroique on the piano, and had to supplement it vrith another solo. The remaining item was a viqlm solo by Mr C. D. Dagg, his selection hem, “Souvenir,” by Franz Brdle. The choir was conducted by Mr W Paget Gale and Mr C. A. Martin played the accompaniments most artistically.