FISK JUBILEE SINGERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19270, 6 September 1924, Page 15

FISK JUBILEE SINGERS.

It is fairly safe to say that there is no body of part-singers and soloists better known than th© Fisk Jubilee Singers, who will appear at tho Burns Hall to-night for a short season, and furthermore, there is no danger in saying that nobody is more entitled to fame man they are. Beginning many years ago on their tours, they met with immediate success, and since then the successors of tho original band have gone about tho world following in tiro footsteps of those who had preceded them. The standard of tho original band was high, and it is only necessary to say that it has not deteriorated.

Thy Jubilee Singers have only one of the original band with them, and that one, Miss Belle Gibbons, is still able to give a performance that is wotth going a long way to hear, lire other members of the company are much younger, but they live well up to the old tradition. The party consists of four men and four women, and most of them have voices of an unusual quality. They all seem to have a slight metallic ring that gives a distinctive tone to their voices, and is used with fine effect in the part-singing. This, coupled with the fact that the enunciation and' general production age perfect, ensures a good solid foundation for the performance. The choruses always seem to deal with thing's that have a suggestion of lightness about them. Perhaps it might be more accurate to say that the themes are simple, and handled with _ an _ almost childish delight. The part-singing in all of them is superb, the blend and balance being perfectly preserved. It is in this class of work that The ringing quality of the voices Is particularly noticeable. It gives a swing to the air, and in a subtle sort of way enhances the whole effect. The company consists of three sopranos, a contralto, two tenor, a baritone, a basso, and last but not least a lady baritone. The Dunedin season will open to-night for seven nights.