TRAINING COLLEGE

Evening Star, Issue 23678, 11 September 1940, Page 2

TRAINING COLLEGE

CHORAL SOCIETY'S CONCERT VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENING Those members of the public who attended the concert given by the Choral Society of the Dunedin Trainiug College last night—and the Wallace Hall was comfortably filled.—can congratulate themselves on having spent a thoroughly enjoyable evening. The general standard of the performance was high, although there were one or two items of which the exclusion, might have been beneficial to the general effect. ‘ Individual performers as well- as the choir and orchestra gave, of their best, and the well-balanced programme was carried through with a commendable absence of delay., Ttie choir showed a preponderance of female voices that could not be brought, into the best of balance, but the conductor, Mr George E. Wilkinson, is to. be congratulated on the, excellent effect "vvhicU. he at most times produced. The Training College Orchestra was heard in two numbers, Elliott’s ‘ Minuet and Intermezzo,’ in the latter of which the woodwinds were heard to advantage, and * Evensong,’ by Martin. Messrs L. White and J. Ritchie were responsible for a clarinet duet, ‘ Canzonetta,’ by Abes. The Dunedin public heard' these two in the concert given by the Technical Choir a few weeks ago, and the anticipation, of something really good was fulfibed again in masterly fashion. Of the choral items, 4 Beyond the Spanish Main ’ (Armstrong Gibbs> was perhaps the best, sung in swinging rousing rhythm. It was noticeable that the choir was much more at home in this type of offering; although on the other hand the rendering of 4 I Waited for the Lord ’ (Mendelssohn) was all that could be wished for. In this iteim the choir achieved the happiest ot balance with the soloists, Miss M. Elder and Miss J. Gasparich, who were both in excellent voice. 4 The Hunter m His ■ Career ’ (arr. Granger) was another successful item, while in the tuneful polonaise— ‘ Christmas Night, • by Rimsky Korsakov, the choir caught the true spirit of the air. 4 Tubsu Cain ’ (Duuhill) was not so successful. Only at times did the singers achieve a true translation of the item. ■ The ladies of the choir sang Elgar a 4 Shepherd’s Song ’ with quite good effect. Thq male chorus was responsible for two sea shanties, which proved deservedly popular. In the absence of Mr J. R. Milligan, Mr T. Pedlar sang the solo part. This singer’s rich bantone was also heard in 4 For England (Murray) .which seemed in the opening to be marred by a trace of quite unjustified nervousness. With the choir. Miss C. Warwick sang 4 0 Peaceful England,’ from Edward German* 4 Merrie England,’ sweetly and with feeling. Well-deserved applause greeted Miss E. Clyde for her singing of \Panis Angelious ’ (Franck), in_ which the ’cello obbligato was supplied by. Miss E. Frye, She has a true voice, and sang with feeling and appreciation. Miss P. Gapper gave a very sweet and true rendering of Ellen* Worship,’ by Handej. Miss B. Kirknes* successfully negotiated 4 A Mood (Travers) in its difficulties of emotional changes. Miss N. Burns also tackled 4 difficult subject in 4 VRlanelle ’ with its eratio cadenzas in imitation of swallow flight. Her rendering was very well received. Mr I. Jenkins was responsible for a spirited interpretation of Willebv’s 4 Sea Gipsy.’ Accompanists were Misses K. Bell. H. Birt. M. Mowat. N. Pickett, and Messra R. Perks and George E. Wilkinson.