DUNEDIN CHORAL SOCIETY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23918, 20 September 1939, Page 3

DUNEDIN CHORAL SOCIETY

MOZART’S “ REQUIEM MASS ” A PRAISEWORTHY PERFORMANCE During recent years the Dunedin Choral Society has gratified its supporters by the consistently competent standard of performance it has maintained in its recitals, but it is extremely doubtful if it has ever done anything better than the masterly presentation of Mozart’s “Requiem Mass,” with which it delighted a large audience in the Town Hall Concert Chamber last night. Throughout this noble composition, with its rich choral work and lovely ensemble sections, the choir sang with the utmost confidence and skill, and the conductor ■ (Mr Alfred Walmsley) and the singers themselves are to be sincerely complimented on a musical achievement • which should serve to prove conclusively that in the seventy-sixth year of its existence, the Choral Society lacks nothing of that stamina, vitality and enthusiasm which have made it a strong artistic force in this city for so many years. A feature of the choir’s performance as a whole was the boundless confidence it reposed m the conductor which was reflected in the spirit and accuracy of its attacks, the fine balance and quality of its tone, and the unanimity with which it followed Mr Walmsley’s interpretative . readings “Requiem Mass” is principally choral, although there are several lovely passages for a quartet, and few of the choruses are of such simplicity that they can be treated lightly. In fact, the performance was one that imposed a somewhat exhausting task upon the choristers, but it says much for the careful preparation they had given the work that there was no sign of flagging spirit at the conclusion of the presentation. The quartet consisted of Miss Doris Wilson (soprano). Miss Alison Tyrie (contralto). Mr Cecil Wallis (tenor) and Mr Russell Laurenson (bass), whose principal numbers. “ Tuba Mirum,” in which the trombone obbligato was competently played by Mr Chisholm, and “ Recordare,” were artistically sung, the singers being well balanced and preserving attractive blend of tone. The Choral Society’s orchestra, led by Miss Ethel Wallace, played an important part in the successful performances of the work, its accompaniments to the choral and ensemble numbers being firm yet sympathetic, while all sections of the players combined competently to bring out all the rich beauty of the orchestration. . The opening portion of the recital also provided some satisfying choral work, the choir’s first group of compositions by Handel, “ Crown Him Ruler,” from “ Lothanus,” “ The Foolish Lover Squanders,” from Deidamia,” and “ The Heart That’s Contented, - ’ from “Admetus,” giving the audience a good insight into the high standard of competence to which Mr Walmsley has brought his singers. Crisp attack, fine, buoyant tone, and well-controlled expression were the salient features of these numbers, and the choir later went on to give equally competent interpretations of two English folk songs, “The Shepherd and His Fife.” and “The Turtle Dove.” Two numbers which had a particular interest by reason of the fact that they were the work of Dunedin composers were “ The Shepherdess,” by Dr V. E. Galway, and “Lacking Samite and Sable,” by Miss Mary Martin. Both of these numbers were unaccompanied, and received skilful and sympathetic treatment. An interesting section of the programme was that in which the Castalian Singers, a ladies’ double trio, consisting of Mrs J. Higgs, Miss Dorothy Mackay, Miss Nan Wood, Miss Lexie Mathieson, Mrs I. Longworth, and Miss Doris Beck, led by Miss Mavis Macdonald, presented Arthur Somervell’s song cycle, “ Wind Flowers,” which embodied delightful setting of poems by Christina Rossetti, Sidney Dobell. Shelley, and R, L. Stevenson. The singers sang with appealing grace and charm, maintaining good balance and tonal blend, and giving authoritative expression to the varying moods of the different portions of the cycle. Mrs Higgs and Mrs Longworth also sang solo parts in artistic style. The soloist of the evening was Mr Russell Laurenson, who gave a strongly-shaded interpretation of the dramatic “ Eri Tu.' from Verdi’s “ Ballo in Maschera,” and was called upon to sing an encore. The choral and solo accompaniments were artistically played by Miss Mavis Macdonald and Mr George Wilkinson respectively.