This choir can apparently produce full volume at the drop of a hat.
Yes, there were a few fragile patches in their singing, but these were quickly forgotten in the light of the well-balanced harmonies and the overall energy. Full credit to the conductor, Karen Knudson.
I think I enjoyed the choir most in two pieces that came early in the concert: the hymn, Aberystwyth, and Franz Biebl's Ave Maria (in which they were joined by the male trio, Guillare).
Both of these were beautifully done.
Among the choir's other offerings there was something to please everyone: opera, David Bowie, and Disney, as well as the two reflective songs in the Ceremony of Remembrance section.
Soloist Claire Barton sang We'll Gather Lilacs with warmth, showing no hint of the incipient tonsillitis that had caused her to scratch an aria from Saint-Saens' Samson and Delilah, and she also gave a delightful performance of Noel Coward's London Pride.
The Madden brothers, Ben and Sam, along with Nick Tipa, make up the trio, Guillare.
They gave the New Zealand group Sole Mio a run for their money, even playing around with that group's signature tune.
Their central song, Homeward Bound, was superbly and movingly sung.
Under Peter Adams, St Kilda Brass performed almost as often as the choir, with rousing renditions of Pastime with Good Company, John Williams' Olympic Spirit and When the Saints come Marching In among others.
Uni Rock Muzos joined the choir for Space Oddity and Aquarius. The pianist's work was mostly eclipsed by the organ and bass guitar.
Joata de Souza is plainly a superb pianist; we just could not hear him well.
- Mike Crowl
