Taihape choral singing this weekend

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 23, 3 November 1987, Page 13

Taihape choral singing this weekend

Two years ago Taihape's "Arcadian Choir" and "Cantabile Singer", now the Tauranga Civic Choir, joined forces to prsent Handel's ever popular oratorio, "Messiah". This year sees the two choirs again combining for presentations in both Taihape and Tauranga of one of Handel's more famous oratorios, "Judas Maccabaeus". On Saturday 7 November the Taihape Town Hall will resound to the glorious music of this mighty work in which five soloists, eighty-three choristers, seventeen instrumentalists and well known national and local pianist, Helen Collier will be involved. Soloists are Marie O'Leary - soprano, Margot Lloyd - contralto, Edward Driscoll and John Tizzard - tenors and Maurice Taylor - bass. Messiah has tended to overshadow and push into the background some of Handel's other more successful oratorios. Contralto Margot Lloyd

is a very accomplished musician with many credits involving oratorio, opera, musicals and cabaret. She has a voice of velvet which she uses most artistically. In 1966 Margot left New Zealand to further her studies and while away she spent three years with the Welsh National Opera Company. She and her husband, John Stanley are very much in demand as professional entertainers. Margot has sung with the Tauranga choir on previous occasions. Edward Driscoll, who arrived in New Zealand in 1973 studied part-time at the Guildhall School of Music in the period 1970 to 1973 which culminated in him reaching the final of the Gold Medal contest in London. In that period he won practically every music festival singing trophy on the Greater London circuit. His three years in , Wellington involved him in broadcasting, opera,

oratorio and concerts with the NZ Symphony Orchestra including in 1975 the entire Summer Prom season with John Matheson. Edward now lives in Palmerston North but he is still in demand as a soloist and broadcaster. He also sung with the Tauranga choir on previous occasions. Other tenor solos will be sung by John Tizzard of Wellington who two years ago joined the two choirs at Taihape for the presentation of Messiah. His fine tenor voice will be heard to advantage in this work. Judas Maccabaeus was first performed at Covent Garden on Aprill, 1747. Cont'd on p. 14