Popular British singers return to N.Z.

Press, 24 April 1979, Page 12

Popular British singers return to N.Z.

Members of the internationally acclaimed British sextet. The King’s Singers, will be presenting the final concert of their New Zealand tour at the Christchurch Town Hall on May 9. The King’s Singers was founded over 10 years ago and has since presented nearly 1000 concerts in various countries. The Singers’ voices range from counter tenor to bass. Members are Nigel Perrin, Alastair Hume, Bill Ives, Anthony Holt, Simon Carrington and Brian Kay.

The Christchurch Chamber Music Society, who are the programme organ-

isers, list The King’s Singers as being one of the main features of the 1979 subscription series for the Christchurch Chamber Music Society. The concert at the Town Hall auditorium is expected to appeal to a wide audience. Tickets are on sale at the Town Hall booking Office. The week-long New Zealand tour has been organised by the Music Federation of New Zealand. The other concerts on the tour were presented in Auckland, Wellington and Nelson.

During the course of the evening concert the group will present what they consider to be the best of their repertoire — a mixture of classic and contemporary songs from Britain, Germany and France. The programme will be in this order: 1. English and German Songs of the Renaissance 2. Renaissance Motets 3. Time Piece (1973) —

Music: Paul Patterson — Words: Tim Rose Price _____ INTERVAL' 4. Quatre Petites Prieres de Saint Francis d’Assise — Francis Poulenc 5. Three Chansons — Francis Poulenc 6. Arrangements in Close ' Harmony. The evening’s performance will also include “Arrangement in Close Harmony” which will af-

ford The King’s Singers the opportunity of moving into better known and easily recognisable songs, some which have been responsible for developing an across-the-board worldwide appeal, placing the group in strong demand for radio and television performances. George Martin, better known for his work with the Beatles and other pop groups, has produced some of the singers’

lighter recordings. the covers of which often feature The King's Singers’ logo, a bird flying to freedom. This is said to epitomise the feeling of freshness the singers endeavour to inject into their music. The Christchurch Chamber Music Society opened their subscription series this year with the Chilingirian Quartet from Britain on March 14. The Julian Bream concert sheduled for Monday, April 23 in the James Hay

threatre is already sold out. Fur!her performances in Christchurch include the Smetana Quartet from Czechoslovakia on Thursday July 12; The New Zealand Brass Ensemble on Sunday, August 12 and a French String Trio on Monday September 7.