CHORAL RECITAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23223, 22 June 1937, Page 13

CHORAL RECITAL

MR ERNEST DRAKE’S STUDENTS I A WORTHY PERFORMANCE It is always a pleasure to listen to Mr Ernest Drake’s student choir, and the audience which filled the Concert Chamber last night for the second concert of the season enjoyed a programme which, although it might have fallen short of the choir’s finest attainments, was -a performance steeped in musicianship. Mr Drake had perfect control, and the whole of the concerted work was clean, the attack being decisive, the balance mainly good, tha phrasing excellent, and the Interpretation above reproach on any score. Tha programme depended upon the choir for its foundation, and its work, particularly with Miss Mary Pratt in the melodious Rubinstein “ Seraphic Song and two unaccompanied gems, “ Tha Silver Swan ” and “ Nightfall in Skye," was of a standard worthy of an enviable reputation. Miss Pratt’s singing was up to her own glorious standard. The choir started off with vim and clarity in “The Miller’s Wooing" (Eaton Fanning) and “ When Summer’s Merry Days Come In" (Davies), catching light and shade and altogether making a joyful roundelay of the second number of the bracket. Good v phrasing marked “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” (Burleigh), but the tenors marred the balance of Roberton’s “ King Arthur.” They were not as even a section as could have been desired, but the general efficiency of the choir made it easy to overlook any lapse in that direction. The bright choral dance, “ Pan,” by Rutland Boughton, was well done, and the choir’s interpretation of a rhapsody on Welsh airs had delicate shading and invigorating ton*. There was finish all through the choir’s work, the softs in particular being sweet and mellow and always clean. Apart from the artistic merit of she choral work, these concerts serve a valuable purpose in Introducing young and new singers, and last evening there was some excellent promise in the variety of voices heard. Miss Rena Roche, a rich mezzo soprano, sang “ None But the Weary Heart ” (Tschaikowsky) attractively, and her voice is already of splendid quality. The finish that characterised the choir’s work could not be expected in young soloists, some of whom were making their first appearance on the concert platform, but Mr Leslie Dunbar, who sang “ The Broken Spirit” (Verdi), was another whose voice attracted attention for its quality. Mr A. J. H. Jeavons’s pleasing voice was not given entirely adequate support by the male voices in two sea songs, “ Devon, O Devon in Wind and Rain ” and “ The Old Superb” (Stanford), but there was a lot of merit in his renderings. Miss Isa Duff’s soprano was confident and fresh, and she created a very favourable impression in the aria “Depui* je jour” (Charpentier). Miss Valda M’Curdy, a soprano, sang “Ah! Never Sing to Me Again ” (Rachmaninoff), and Mis§ Angela Hendry and Mr J. M’Farlane sang a bracket % of duets. “Songs My Mother Taught f Me” (Dvorak) and “Passing By” (Purcell), Miss Hendry’s contralto was not thrown out sufficiently to balance Mr M’Farlane’s firm tenor, but the sweet little Purcell song was very enjoyable. Mr Lex Macdonald chose Schubert’s “By the Sea.” which demands thoroughly competent handling. His voice is filling out rapidly, and there was no suggestion .of .forcing: to mar his accomplished singing. Miss Melba Wilson has yet to develop, and she began hesitatingly in the Puccini aria, “ They Call Me Mimi.” Her lower register was not strong, and more attention to enunciation would result in a definite improvement. There was not a great deal of variety In the singing of Miss Aileen Young and Mrs J. W. Allan, but they sang O Lovely Peace ’’ (Handel) smoothly and musically. “The Erl King” was too heavy a song for Miss Bertha Rawhnson, and it was more noticeable for a rattling good accompaniment by Mra Drake. Misses D. Drake, E, Hadfield and B. Rawlinson sang a well-known Brahms “ Lullaby," and a snatch of Gilbert and Sullivan. “Three Little Maids From School,” being bright without quite catching the tempo of their second number. Miss Melba Wilson and Mr R. Wilson sang the Verdi "Miserere Scene” competently enough, but not convincingly. They were not alone in that, but there was little fault to be found with the quality of the voices heard during the evening. Confidence and finish can come only with experience, and Mr Drakes outstanding work with his student choir is providing experience m a generous measure. The accompaniments were played by Mrs Clarice Drake competently and helpfully, and Miss Ethel Wallace played a violin obbligato that had a full share in the sheer enjoyment of the “Seraphic Song." Applause, wa* spontaneous throughout the evening.