Dunedin RSA Choir with musical director Karen Knudsen were in excellent voice for their annual Anzac Revue in Knox Church on Saturday evening.
Several new members appear to have rejuvenated the choir and together with their guests, a good-sized audience enjoyed an impressive variety of items.
They opened accompanied by St Kilda Brass, who were in top form from recent success in national competitions.
Cameron Monteath conducted, achieving impressive dynamic contrasts for Elgar’s popular Nimrod.
Zum Sanctus — Heilig Heilig Heilig by Schubert followed, featuring strong solo verses from choir scholar, tenor Jesse Hanan.
A "Ceremony of Remembrance" included the traditional Last Post, The Ode, reveille and Requiem for a Soldier as well as Hanan with soprano Rhiannon Cooper in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s popular Pie Jesu.
Cooper (a past choir scholar), an award-winning soprano, then filled the venue with her strong operatic repertoire — Dich, teure Halle by Wagner and Puccini’s Vissi d’arte.
Everyone, including the audience joined her for The White Cliffs of Dover.
Copeland’s Fanfare for the Common Man featured splendid brass timbre and strong percussion before a Les Miserables medley from the choir and soloists preceded the interval.
St Kilda Brass opened the second half with three pieces, then Hanan sang two solos before joining the choir for Ain’t She Sweet.
Dunedin Star Singers, conducted by Rosemary Tarbotton with piano from Jennifer Dunbar, presented three numbers with well-intoned harmonies before joining the RSA choir for Sure on this Shining Night.
The final combined item was a rousing performance of Battle Hymn of the Republic.
Long-term choir members David Coulter (47 years), Ian Griffith (40), Kevin Tansley (39) and David More (30) were presented with life membership awards.
Kevin Tansley compered the evening, the pianist was Sandra Crawshaw and the organist Carolyn Schmid.
Review by Elizabeth Bouman
