ROYAL CHOIR CONCERT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1051, 15 August 1930, Page 14

ROYAL CHOIR CONCERT

FINE PROGRAMME GIVEH LIGHT AND SHADE IN SONS A very large audience listened to a fine programme by the Royal Auckland Choir and assisting artists at the second concert, of the winter, giver in the Town Hall last evening. Tho musical director, Dr. W. E. Thomu had made selection of a well balance! list, tending generally toward the dramatic, with lightsome numbers ber» and there.

The choir was assisted by Miss Mini Caldow, who gave several pleasing solo items; by the Moore sisters, instrumentalists* and by Mr. Eric Ben, the young Auckland pianist. A departure much enjoyed was the concert singing of SO boys from the Mourt Albert Grammar School, under the

conductorship of Mr. A R. Gatland. Mr. Cyril Towsey accompanied the Royal Auckland Choir, and a scholar the Grammar boys. The opening number was a part song, “Hymn to Cynthia,” whose exquisite poetry was made the most c' by the choir. The words were dear and out-reaching, the number working to a fine crescendo, fading, the: rising to a climax. Then ‘‘Rondo Aik Turca” (Mozart) by the Moore sister? This was admirably done, and the tr.o were called upon for an encore.

OCEAN'S TURBULENCE Descriptive of ocean’s turbulence “The Lee Shore” was a spirited anfi expressive part song, whose second verse fell to an even more note. Dr. Thomas secured deep path* from the simple words. As encore, the choir repeated the item. “How’s My Boy?” was in its essen:? dramatic and difficult of interpretation. Miss Caldow sang most effectively, deriving as she did all of the poet's meaning, particularly in the last ; heartbroken cry of the sailor’s nM>tk£ Followed another part song, Tj* Chough and Crow.” This was chie.7 j, a trio by Messrs. Russell, Parker, | Rowe, with a chorus evolved from last two lines in each verse. This | not appear to impress as the earltr l numbers, and although an encore *** I sought, the choir sang it all | which upset what might have beegained in the first rendering. . The Grammar boys began a sere? of three numbers with the JJJJ song. “The Sergeant-Major on Paraa* which they sang with plenty of martvim. The part song. “O PeaceNight,” one of German’s, was very interpreted, light and shade being e -‘ fectively done without too j contrast either way. The boys w heartily applauded, and sang extra the plantation song “DinahUnaccompanied and tenderly given . the Royal Choir, the part song. the Stars,” was softly conducted almoin the prayerful mood. Altogether lightful was that sweet lullaby, J l ***.; Dreams,” sung by Miss Caldow. Gen 1 « and soothing with the under-roll pression of the ocean’s heaving b° - caught the imagination of the ence, and Miss Caldow was inaucea \ sing the number again. "J----played the “Hungarian Rhapsody that skill which is his. He interpre a most difficult thing with faculty, was recalled. POPULAR NUMBER -The Hag- was perhaps the popular of the choir’s numbers, tastic, with the elusiveness of trio the wisp, and taken at a rapid tern the live verses had taken the ! > ,te "v away in fancy when it was tn ® . , Dr. Thomas w ell merited the S " S “E ' applause with which the numbe received. «,mced The Moore sisters made pronoun _ success with the minuet frt®* bert’s “Symphonie Militaire. “The Smugglers,” sung by tne^ irt was another dramatic piepe v e!l with a defiant challenge. demetre was full of adventure, scriptive of coastguards and a -Xot Understood." sad and .c°®£~ ing, was excellently sung by - dow, who then transformed of her hearers with a merry “Here’s April.” corA most enjoyable prograimb , eluded with Lloyd’s well-kno » “A Wet Sheet and a Flowing