LADIES’ CHOIR

Wanganui Chronicle, 1 July 1948, Page 6

LADIES’ CHOIR

WELL-BALANCED PROGRAMME

VARIED QUALITY ENTERTAINMENT.

(By

H. C. J.)

Once again the Wanganui Ladies’ Choir have succeeded in presenting a varied programme to the entertainment of the audience, the programme comprising the choir, a male quartette, a baritone soloist and a violinist. The audience was very pleased with the presentation which did credit to the society.

The Wanganui Repertory Society’s theatre suffers from acoustic ditficulties which are a handicap to the plays produced there, but the handicaps are greater for a musical programme. Last night the piano seemed to have been muffled throughout the evening. The choir took the stage at the commencement, and because of the smallness of the area available, they had to remain in possession throughout the night The conductor was on a level with the choir and obstructed the view to a distracting degree. If the choir again occupies this theatre an experiment should be made to see whether it can arrive at the peak of choir performance and sing without benefit of conducting. From last night’s performance it would appear that it would succeed in this. The choir is very well trained and keeps to the music throughout. There are some very intelligent singers among the company, whose singing is of a very sound order, the quality of their voices is good. The development of soloists from among the choristers the policy now embarked upon shows promise of being highly successful. One thing stands in the way of further success and that is the defective postures of too many of the singers. It is this that cuts down the volume and the quality. The Health Centre could do much to assist remedying this very obvious defect. The ability of some of the choristers to memorise their parts is a good example which others might follow n they can. The choir has well established that it can interpret ballads successfully. Now more is to be expected of it. The piece de force last night was a choral suite, “Sleeping Beauty Ballet” (Tschaikowsky), which was to its credit. The highlight of the programme provided by the choir, however, was the finale Schubert’s Serenade. The rendering of this number would have done credit to any choir in the Dominion. It was a performance of high artistic merit. Daisy Lawford’s violin playing Is very pure, her execution is sure and the quality of her notes can be described as beautiful. She bows intelligently and handles her instrument with understanding. She is a young musician who could go very far indeed if she can capture the higher emotions without losing her present poise and commendable restraint. Her numbers were will chosen and delightfully executed. Her numbers com prised “Adagio from Sonata, Op.) 30” (Beethoven), “Bolero” (German). This was an interesting number with the theme of a Scottish ballad adapted to the composers needs incorporated in it. “Adagio and Allegro, from Sonata No 3” (Handel), and the apex of her contribution, "Berceuse de Jocelyn” (Godard). William H. Gregg’s opening number was “Lend Me Your Aid” (Bounod), which was a fine performance for the voice at the command of the singer today. He might find it wiser not to be so ambitious in the future and the dramatics of “Lord Randal” are certainly beyond him. His voice is soundly trained and he knows how to use it, which he does successfully when he stays within its limits. “Che Faro” (Gluck) and “The Carpet’ (Sanderson) were among his other numbers. I should like to hear this singer in a carefully selected programme, which would exploit his talent without making outside demands upon it.

The appearance of a new male quartette, comprising Colin FranklinBrowne, E. Brandon, G. Turkington md I. Wilks was a matter of interest. This combination is well balanced and sings with enjoyment and with, n full appreciation for the numbers chosen The second bracket was the more popular. “Hey! Robin” (Jeffery Shaw) and “Shortnin’ Bread” (Hugh Robertson), the first comprising “Cal’ao“ and “The Old Stone House.” Among the choir’s numbers not already mentioned, were “How Merrily We Live” (Este) "The Silver Swan” (Orlando Gibbons), “What Saith M' Dainty Darling” (Thomas Money), Little Red Bird” (Arnold Foster), “Graceful Swaying Wattle’ (Frank Bridge), and “Law of the Spirit” am’ ’Heart Ever Faithful.” both by Bach. The Ladies Choir is to be congratulated upon its sixth recital, and the conductress, Mrs. Charles Berry, 'ipon the high standard that has been attained. The accompaniste at the piano was Mrs. T. Sutherland. Miss Thea Collier accompanied the violin solos of D?isv Lawford.