VOCAL FINESSE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 773, 20 September 1929, Page 14

VOCAL FINESSE

GLEE SINGERS CONTINUE TO ENTERTAIN A refinement in manner and stage presence that is at once naive and charming, finesse in vocal delivery, and a repertoire of choice numbers, mark the concerts that are being given by the Westminster Glee Singers in His Majesty’s Theatre. The fifth programme was presented last evening to a good house. It would be difficult to select the finest from such a host of musical gems. Apart from those items in which humour made its irresistible appeal to the audience, perhaps the offering of “Nelly Gray” by a quintet was best received. In this number, as in others where sympathetic treatment was necessary, the performers showed that the ability to create an appropriate atmosphere without in any way detracting from the pure musical beauty of the item being presented was one of their strong points. In madrigals, folk songs, glees and catches the true spirit of the minstrel who wandered throughout the length and breadth of England’s countryside in days of yore was faithfully and happily portrayed. As a soloist Mr. Ernest McKinley went straight to his listeners’ hearts. In “Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms,” “Waiata Maori,” and “My Little Banjo,” he displayed liis . versatility in handling widely diversified styles, and won generous applause. The vocal roysterings of Mr. Albert Ga Greene as a balladist, put the audience in happy vein. In “Long Ago In Alcala” he was very much the swashbuckler who told a wicked tale, and it is hard to believe that he did not learn to sing sea chanteys in a forecastle. In “Johnny Come Down To Hilo,” “The Sailor Likes His Bottle,” and “Blow, Ye Winds Of Morning,” lie struck the true sailoring note and gained warm applause. Ills chorus supported him well, as a good crew should. The sympathetic accompanying of r * Donald Reid and the artistic manner in which Mr. Edward Branscombe as conductor his forces throughout, were conspicuous. The Glee Singers will be heard again tonight.