FINE SINGING BY MALE CHOIR

Southland Times, Issue 25739, 1 August 1945, Page 3

FINE SINGING BY MALE CHOIR

FIRST KECITAL OF SEASON A musical treat was provided for a large audience at the Civic Theatre last night when the Invercargill Male Choir gave its first recital of its twenty-sixth season. Past recitals have earned the choir a finer reputation and it more than lived up to that reputation last night. Under the skilful training and direction of Mr Alfred Walmsley, the choir presented the contours of its phrases without angularity and with precision in entries and a tastefully ordered balance of the voices. The choir’s choice of assisting artists was excellent. The performances of the well-known, Dunedin instrumentalists Miss Ethel Wallace (violinist) and Mr Gil Dech' (pianist) and of the assisting vocalists added much to the pleasure of the evening. There was in Miss Wallace’s playing a vitality and lilt that are not always apparent and some really fine piano work came from Mr Dech. The first part of the programme opened with the singing of V. E. Galway’s arrangement of “God Defend New Zeaanld.” This was followed by a stirring Zulu war song, “The Swazi Warrior” (arranged by Dr Thomas Wood) by the choir, and “Bobby Shaftoe” (arranged by W. G. Whitaker), which was in softer vein. The choir of almost 40 voices responded well to Mr Walmsley’s directions and continued to do so throughout the evening. Mr Walmsley succeeded in producing real pianissimo singing in “Drink to me Only” (arranged by Curven), the choir’s next number. This was followed by “The British Grenadiers” (arranged by Maxfield). TRIBUTE TO DR BROWN

Other numbers sung by the choir in part one of the programme included a Christmas carol of the Indians of Manhattan Island, “Twas in the Moon of Winter Time” (arranged ,by Pietro Yen), a Celtic hymn, “The Outgoing of the Boats” (arranged by Sir Hugh Robertson) and “The Twenty-Third Psalm,” which was presented in memory of Dr Stanley Brown, past conductor and life member of the choir. During the singing of this composition the audience stood.

In their first appearance Miss Wallace and Mr Dech played selections from Irish folk songs. They made an immediate appeal and the audience was eager for more. Two Czechoslovak folk songs, “Twinkling Stars” and “Lullaby,” sung by Mrs Margaret Brydone (contralto), and solos, “The Yeoman’s Wedding Song” (Prince Poniatowski) and “An Eriskay Love Lilt” (KennedyFraser) by Mr E. G. L. Adamson (baritone) completed the first part of the programme. Both gave pleasing performances. * After the interval the choir sang the bandit chorus, “Companions, Let’s Drink and Play,” from the opera “Emani” (Verdi). Then came a scene from the opera “La Forza del Destine.” The soloists, Miss Nancy O’Brien (soprano), and Mr Pvoss Hewton (bass) gave capable performances. In the pilgrimage scene from Wagner’s “Tannhausen,” Miss Mavis Alsweiler (mezzo-soprano) came through a difficult solo part with hdnours. The Miserere scene from H Trovatore” (Verdi), the soloists being Miss O’Brien and Mr G. Paterson, a clear tenor, the chorus, “O Isis and Osiris” from Mozart’s “Magic Flute” (soloist, the well-known bass, Mr R. L. Stevenson) and “Anvil Chorus” from Verdi’s “H Trovatore,” completed the choir’s presentations. Miss Wallace and Mr Dech played the finale from “Sonatina in G Major” (Dvorak) in the second part of the programme. They were an even greater success in this than in their first performance, and they were recalled three The accompanist, Mrs A. Walmsley, had a strenuous evening. She was sympathetic and correct in all compositions.