BRILLIANT PART-SINGING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22751, 11 December 1935, Page 8

BRILLIANT PART-SINGING

VIENNESE CHOIR'S FOURTH CONCERT % i Perfectly balanced singing, exquisite tone control, and a remarkable unanimity of attack again characterised the concert by the Viennese Boys' Choir which was presented before a large audience in His | Majesty's Theatre last evening. Despite the fact that the choir had given a matinee performance in the afternoon, at which over 1000 pupils from the various Dunedin schools were present, it showed not the slightest trace of strain or fatigue, and succeeded in maintaining to the full the extraordinarily high standard of concerted and solo singing that made its first and second concerts such notable- musical experiences. Firmly yet sensitively controlled by Mr Victor Gomboz, who combined the duties of accompanist: and conductor with such musicianly skill and insight as to enhance very greatly the value of the works presented by the choir, the boys sang with appealing charm and grace, some of the part singing being the best heard during the season to date. Nothing could have been more exquisite than . the first number of the opening classical group, "Haeo Dies" (J. Callus), arranged for eight parts, and those of last night's audience who had not previously heard the choir were ushered promptly into a realm of choral work of the beauty of which they had not dreamed. This number, sung with an astonishing maturity of vocal musicianship, was one of the most notable presentations yet achieved by the choir, and provided an excellent introduction to an evening of very beautiful singing. Continuing the mediaeval sacred group, the choir presented "Ascendit Deus," also by Gallus, with a crispness of attack and a perfection of tonal balance that made it a worthy successor to the opening item, and then went on to sing the Holy Grail scene from Wagner's " Parsifal," a difficult and complex work, in delightfully competent style. The group concluded with an exceedingly ! eautiful performance of Beethoven's "Die Ehre Gottes" (Creation's Hymn), the audience expressing its unbounded delight in such unmistakable fashion that the choir responded by singing Gruber's " Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht." The operetta selected for the evening was Haydn's " Der Apotheker " ("The Apothecary"), a jovial and melodious work entirely characteristic of the Haydn mood. Here again the young singers displayed their. qualifications as actors as well as vocalists, and succeeded in presenting a performance that was at once artistic and convincing. It was difficult to realise that the players were only mere boys not yet 12 years of asje, for their work bore the stamp of a maturity that belied their years, and tliey completely captivated the audience both with their singing and their acting. The solos and duets in this operetta are particularly colourful and meledious, and they lost none of their beauty in their presentation by the principal players. Prior to the commencement of the operetta two alto solos, a work by Mozart, and Schubert's " Hark, Hark, the Lark " were attractively sung by a member of the choir. The second portion of the recital opened with a delightfully-shaded pres> ntation of the Chorus of the Messengers of Peace, from Wagner's •' Ricnzi." in which perfect blend of tone was allied to excellent balance and cohesion. The folk song " The Little Sandman " was a truly delightful number and was characterised by a daintiness and restraint that made an unusual appeal. The succeeding item, Schubert's " The Nightingale," a lively and harmonious composition, was sung with attractive grace and charm, the programme proper being brought to a conclusion with a finely-shaded and artistically-colo'ired presentation of Strauss's " Tales From the Vienna Woods." The audience's steadily mounting enthusiasm precluded the completion of the programme at this point, however, and in response to prolonged bursts of applause the choir sang Strauss's " Pizzicato," an Austrian folk song, conducted by one member of the choir while another provided an accordeon accompaniment, Strauss's " Blue Danube," and " Dixieland." The choir's Dunedin season will be concluded to-day, when matinee and evening performances will be given.