Enjoyable, eclectic concert
THIS allmale choir of approximately 60 singers, directed by Karen Knudsen (accompanists Johnny Mottershead and David Burchell) has gone from strength to strength in the past couple of years, but I thought this performance was not as good as earlier appearances this year, and there were a number of ‘‘untidy moments’’.
Nevertheless, it was a very enjoyable evening with plenty of variety, and the choir’s opening unaccompanied national anthem in Maori was outstanding.
Cornet player Ralph Miller joined the choir for items such as Roses of Picardie, Aberystwth and Agnus Dei by Karl Jenkins.
He also featured with pianist Mike Crowl in a virtuosic arrangement of Napoli. A soft, prayerful choral number Think on Me by Victor Johnson preceded the customary Ceremony of Remembrance.
A highlight was the final of a series of 12 short World War 1 historical commentaries researched and presented by Huia Ockwell during the customary ceremony during the past four years.
Choir scholar, soprano Rhian non Cooper possesses a strong developing voice with clear diction, confident delivery and appealing stage manner. Her songs were If There were Dreams to Sell, Darlin’ and When I look at You, accompanied by Mike Crowl.
The Logan Park High School Jazz Band was in fine form, honing its musical presentation for a Jazz Festival trip to Australia next May.
Thirteenyearold Grace Togneri made her debut with Norma the town hall organ, particularly impressing with The Power of Life, a piece requiring considerable dexterity to achieve variety of mood and texture.
David Burchell provided organ backing and a fourpiece band added to numbers such as Lennon and McCartney’s ObLaDi, ObLaDa and Ghost Riders in the Sky.
The evening was compered by Alasdair Morrison.