TOWER OF STRENGTH AS YOUNG VOICES RISE TO NEW HIGHS TOWER

New Zealand Youth Choir Concert

Directed by Karen Grylls St Matthews Church, Hastings.

Friday 15th February 2008

Reviewed by Peter Williams.

Concerts by various combinations of young people who have comprised the membership of the TOWER New Zealand Youth Choir have always been keenly anticipated for the consistently high standard of their performance.

Again this year the capacity audience was treated to some quite exceptional singing.

While some 17 members were also in the last choir, this newly auditioned group of 47 singers has been together for only one week. The standard achieved in that short time is astonishing - a credit to careful selection criteria and the skill of those who train theses excellent young singers with their obvious dedication to this beautiful art form. Small wonder that the audience was on its feet at the end to applaud such special singing.

Karen Grylls clearly has a great understanding of the possibilities of these young people who sing with such obvious pleasure and commitment.

There was a fascinating selection of international choral repertoire presented, beginning with the beautifully balanced presentation of the prize-winning Jubilate composed by choir member, tenor Andrew Baldwin, followed by the true cathedral tone of If Ye Love Me by Tallis and the contrasted dramatic, sonorous Russian-style singing of Schnittke's setting of The Lord's Prayer (Otsche Nash).

The richly-contrasted singing of the six Gloriana Dances by Benjamin Britten showed remarkable understanding of the composer's style, while the following Coelos Ascendit by Waldenby for double choir showed remarkable clarity and balance of the complex parts.

A highlight of the evening was the start for the second half of the programme when members were spread right around the building combining in the most complex arrangement of Jesus gior meg stille, followed by a beautifully sustained offering dedicated to a long time supporter of the choir who had died, vibrant singing of complex modern compositions from Kenya, Brazil and North America and finally back home - a stirring and totally committed presentation of the haka Te Iwi E and beautifully sustained singing of Ka Waiata (Ave Maria).

The items showed mostly very clear diction and excellent intonation when unaccompanied, and were well supported by the sympathetic piano accompaniment from Robert Wiremu in several songs. here were fine contributions from several solo voices during the evening with the whole programme further enhanced by the very relaxed abd informative spoken introductions for each item from assistant music director, James Tibbles.