Dunedin Town Hall,
Wednesday, April 25
REVIEWED BY ELIZABETH BOUMAN
The audience was full of praise for last evening's Anzac Revue in Dunedin Town Hall, when the RSA Choir (musical director Karen Knudson, accompanists Johnny Mottershead and David Burchell) and supporting artists presented a variety programme.
Opening with a strong rendition of both the New Zealand and Australian national anthems, the entertainment continued with The Lord's Prayer with strong harmony and euphonium obligato (Stephen Wedlock), and Sanctus (Karl Jenkins) with Mosgiel Brass. Other choral favourites included Ring of Fire and Finlandia with resounding brass band accompaniment. A four-piece ensemble accompanied some numbers, and an audience favourite was YMCA when four ``action-men'' (one with Zimmer-frame) led the obligatory arm choreographics.
Guest vocalist Jesse Hanan (13), a very talented boy soprano with glorious tone and impeccable intonation, sang an unaccompanied folk song, Farewell to Nova Scotia with text depicting a young sailor in times of war, Loch Lomondm (accompanied by David Burchell) and Cohen's Hallelujah with self-accompaniment on guitar, then with guest soprano Sophie Morris joined the choir for Pie Jesu (Webber). Morris later presented a bracket of solos and two items with the choir: Nuns Chorus and There is a Balm in Gilead.
Sunny Side Up Gospel Choir performed three a capella numbers, with impressive balance of harmony and shading. Items by Mosgiel Brass were great entertainment, particularly A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square with Big Ben chimes.
How Great Thou Art with solo from Jesse Hanan, and Gwahoddiad concluded an excellent evening of music. The programme included a formal ceremony of remembrance with Last Post (Ralph Miller), Ode (Foalima Lemalu and Colin Challis) Reveille, and historical commentary (Huia Ockwell). The moderate-sized audience was particularly impressed by compere Alistair Morrison.
