N.Z. singer praised for Easter role

Press, 18 April 1979, Page 16

N.Z. singer praised for Easter role

PA London For the sixth year, the New Zealand baritone, Rodney McCann, has won praise singing in the St Matthew Passion performed annually at the Royal Festival Hall in London by the Bach Choir on the two Sundays before Easter.

In the major role o Christus for the third year in succession, McCanr sang with intensity and feeling, according to London’s top critics.

McCann said he had already accepted an invitation to sing the role again.

The next important performance for McCann is when he sings m "The Dream of Gerontius” with he Halle Orchestra next nonth. in a concert to tommemorate the 150th uiniversary of the Hudlersfield Choral Society.

“It will be perhaps be the highlight of my career to date," McCann .-aid. “Huddersfield is the most famous British choral society.”

Tickets for the one performance were sold out more than a year ago, but it is being televised and will be screened in Britain.

McCann, who left New Zealand in 1966 to join the 8.8. C. singers, has enjoyed several successes in recent months and drawn favourable reviews from the press.

Last month he made his debut with the Welsh National Opera as the speaker in Mozart’s “Magic Flute.” Touring with the company he has already sung in several major centres and will continue to do so over the next few months. Several concerts with the renowned Halle Orchestra are also on McCann’s schedule this year. In Februarv, he sang in “Belshazzar’s Feast ”

The “Daily Te'egraph” music critic reserved his only praise for McCann’s performance. “Rodney McCann's wondecul solos were a welcome relief. His

approach underlined the barijatic nature of the text,” he wrote. Another New /..dander singing in the Royal Festival Hall over Easter is the baritone Keith Lewis, t nmerly of Christchurch. The London Ch< ral Society’s production of tne St Matthew Passion is one of his singing engagements lewis completed his first season with t'-e Glyndebourne Festival Opera last (northern) summer and returns for a further season in June. He has also sung throughout Bri’ain with the Glynccbcurne Touring Opera. After leaving New Zealand tn 1973, Lewis Studied at the London Opera Centre for two years and in 1976 won the highly acclaimed Kathleen Fetrier Aw r ard tor young singers. As well as establishing himself in Britain. Lewis has also sung successfully in France. Austria, and The Netherlands.