Royal Dunedin Male Choir
Lion Foundation Arena
Monday, December 5
The Lion Foundation Arena at Edgar Sports Stadium resonated
last night with a very different sound from the usual, when
the Royal Dunedin Male Choir presented its final concert for
the year, compered by Peter Stapleton.
With Richard Madden conducting and Linda Folland at the
piano, the venue's acoustics were tested as the programme
began with Seventy-six Trombones. A rather unique
feeling of spaciousness for the audience, but from where I
sat, a very pleasing balance of well-mixed, subtly amplified
sound.
Good diction and confidence in negotiating key shifts and
rhythmic intricacies ensured success in interesting
arrangements of traditional folk songs Sloop John B
and Li'l Liza Jane.
Winter Wonderland and She Was Beautiful also
produced a good blend of harmony with some impressive tenor
colouring in the latter.
Guest choir the Melrose Singers, directed by Rosemary
Tarbotton (accompanist Linda Hodge), presented two brackets
of songs in a far superior performance than their concert I
heard last week.
Their The Twelve Days After Christmas was an audience
favourite.
The other guest performer was Alex Wilson, a young tenor
studying with Judy Bellingham at the University of Otago.
This is a voice of promise and one to watch as it grows to
maturity. Among his chosen songs was a most sincere rendition
of Younger Than Springtime and Linden Lea where
the delivery was thoughtfully interpreted with intelligent
contrast for each verse. Tom McGrath accompanied.
Acknowledging the fast approach of Christmas, deputy
conductor Peter Keddell and accompanist Frances Brodie took
over for some "Carols with the Audience", before the concert
concluded with a strong delivery of Handel's Hallelujah
Chorus arranged for male choir.
• Written by Elizabeth Bouman.
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