Choir and guests delight listeners with variety concert
A FINE variety concert by the Dunedin RSA Choir (director Karen Knudsen, pianist Johnny Mottershead) and guest performers was enjoyed by a goodsized audience in the Dunedin Town Hall yesterday afternoon.
The choir opened with Cwm Rhondda, trumpeter Ralph Miller adding effective welltoned obligato, followed by a good display of vocal harmony in Si iniquitates observaveris (Wesley).
Several numbers were enhan ced by trumpet, organ (David Burchell), a fourpiece band for Aquarius, and choir scholars Harry Grigg and Erica Paterson. Among these were Bridge Over Troubled Waters with Grigg, ‘‘Anthem’’ from Chess, where warm tenor resonance enriched the entire item, and soprano Paterson joining the choir for Danny Boy.
It is exciting to see growth in developing voices. Grigg is in his final master’s year in Auckland and Paterson, who has performed regularly in local junior vocal competitions, is studying voice at University of Otago. Both presented impressive solo brackets.
Highlights were Grigg’s relaxed contemporary style for
On the Street Where You Live, and passionate delivery of L’enamouree (Hahn), and Paterson’s strength and technical ability in
Fair Robin I Love and wide register resonance in Unexpected Song.
Lani Alo and three members of Samoan Students’ Association ‘‘motivated’’ the choir for a traditional performance of Posi Nofo. Forty dancers from Rasda School of Dance gave a fast, exhilarating display of synchronised hiphop.
Rhondda (conductor John Buchanan) presented three items, demonstrating the discipline and wellbalanced harmony which have recently won awards. They also joined the choir in a Les Miserables medley.
A recent inclusion in all RSA concerts was the short interlude with historical commentary and Ode.