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.
