Current News and Reviews
Concert Reviews
Monday 14 December 2009 - Concert Review: "Carols featured in choir's final 2009 concert"
The Royal Dunedin Male Choir, founded in 1886, gave its final performance for the year in the Dunedin Town Hall.
Members received long service awards and a particular milestone was acknowledged when a 50-year service badge was presented to first tenor Ian Bartlett.
With conductor Richard Madden, accompanists Linda Folland and Frances Brodie and David Burchell at the organ, the choir presented a variety of choral numbers, including the popular Leroy Anderson Christmas tune Sleigh Ride.
A bracket of carols with audience participation was conducted by deputy conductor Peter Keddell. My favourite choir items were Halle, Halle, Halle, arranged by Les Bonar, and "The Soldiers' Chorus" from Faust. Both were presented robustly with good contrast of dynamics though at times, as in some of their other items, delivery of the text was not always tightly articulated.
In the unaccompanied Christmas song Sing We Nowell, the choir achieved very impressive, full harmony and excellent intonation.
Supporting artists featured several talented students from the University of Otago. Bassoonist Joe Donnelly and pianist Jaroslav Novak played a Sonatine, by Alexandre Tansman. The work showcased Donnelly's outstanding technical ability, necessitating immense agility in virtuosic passages across the full register of this woodwind instrument, which is not heard often in solo work.
Bass baritone Tim Blackler, accompanied by Julia Hornsell, sang a Negro spiritual and two British art songs by Ireland, including the well known Sea Fever, which was ideal repertoire for this pleasantly lyrical, light baritone voice.
An OBHS pupil, violinist Juno Pyun, with accompanist Joyce Tang, presented three solos, including an arrangement of Gershwin's It Ain't Necessarily So.
The final item was The Holy City, by Adams, a "must do" for any choir of this size and calibre. First bass member Grant Aitchison sang some passages but I feel this work needs a boy soprano, or soprano timbre, to fully realize its beautiful, melodic lines.
The evening was compered by Peter Stapleton; it was announced the choir's 2010 concerts will be held in Knox Church.
(Review in the Otago Daily Times, 15 December 2009, by Elizabeth Bouman.)
Monday 29 June 2009 - Concert Review: "Many tastes catered for in concert"
An enjoyable variety concert was presented in Dunedin Town Hall last evening by The Royal Dunedin Male Choir and guest entertainers.
The choir, conducted by Richard Madden, entertained with a potpourri of 12 choral numbers in various styles.
Their best item came first with a superb full-harmony unaccompanied version of the National Anthem in clear, precise Maori. (They could teach the All Blacks?) I Got Plenty O' Nuttin' and There is Nothing Like a Dame were popular music theatre numbers, and Bohemian Rhapsody brought a touch of "rock" to this choir of more mature gentlemen.
An arrangement of Lascia ch'io pianga ticked the opera box and tested the choir's Italian (which was better than their intonation in this number) and oratorio was covered with an anthem from Judas Maccabaeus.
Soprano Sarah Oliver sang two brackets of songs. Her charming interpretation of Diak's Little Polly Flinders was a highlight. An instrumental trio comprising Alex Vaastra and Charlotte Francis (violins) and Jaroslav Novak (piano) performed the rather quirky virtuosic Navarra Op.33, by de Sarasate, and an arrangement of the popular The Flower Duet from Lakme.
King's Choir (Kings High School), conducted by Joanne Weggery, were in great choral form. Their robust delivery of A-Roving and Joshua showed they believe it's cool for guys to sing in a choir - at any age.
The Heavens are Telling by Haydn ended the concert honouring the bicentenary of the composer's death.
Accompanists were Linda Folland, Rachel Swindells, Frances Brodie and Marius Minnaar. Compere was Peter Stapleton.
(Review in the Otago Daily Times, 1 July 2009, by Elizabeth Bouman.)
Membership
2009 was a mixed bag which sadly saw the departure of 1st Bass Peter Matthews who retired from the Choir's ranks at the beginning of the year after 31years valued service, which included 8 years on committee.
On the positive side the Choir was pleased to welcome one new member following our June concert, namely 2nd Bass Don Moir. We trust that his stay will be long and enjoyable.
The Choir is always looking for new members, so if you enjoy singing and male camaraderie, join us next February 2010 at our weekly Monday rehearsals at the Wesley Street Methodist Church Hall, Hillside Road, at 7:15pm.
Honorary Life Membership awarded to visiting Welsh Baritone Bryn Terfel !!
There is an old saying... "life is full of surprises."
Members of the Royal Dunedin Male Choir were certainly most surprised at last Monday night's rehearsal for our half-yearly concert to be held in the Town Hall on 29 June, when international singing star Bryn Terfel entered our practice room accompanied by his parents.
This resulted from a chance meeting earlier in the day at the Otago Art Society's Gallery in the Dunedin Railway Station with a member of our choir, well-known artist Murray Ayson and his wife Joan who had invited him inside. Never one to miss an opportunity, Murray told him about our choir, that we were practicing that night and he would be very welcome to come along to especially hear one of our items, a very popular Welsh hymn, Calon Lahn.
Then followed a most exhilarating session with this most talented and humble gentleman, some expert advice on some Welsh pronunciation at the end of Calon Lahn, and concluded with him joining us in a couple of songs.
The Choir is absolutely delighted that Bryn has graciously consented to become an Honorary Member of the Royal Dunedin Male Choir and I have much pleasure in presenting him with this Choir lyre.
We will follow your career with great interest and look forward to seeing you once again in our fair city in the not to distant future.
(This was the speech given by our President Keith Ashton when presenting Bryn with his Choir Lyre in the Dunedin Town Hall on Thursday 11 June 2009. - Registrar)
If you would like to know more about Bryn you can visit his website at: www.terfeliaid.co.uk
Service Recognition
We congratulate the following members on receiving service awards during 2009:
| 50 years | Ian Bartlett |
| 45 years | Ron Kydd |
| 40 years | Harry Johnson |
| 35 years | Des Kelly |
| 10 years | John Dennison |
Reaching such an auspicious landmark of 50 years service deserves special recognition and Ian Bartlett is being presented with his service badge at our Christmas concert. He joins an elite band of five past members who achieved this feat. Ian's record is exemplary - committee member from 1971-1994, 1998-2006, and during these times was Chairman 1978-84, Deputy Chairman 1977, 1985-88, President 1989-90, and Trustee since 1995. In recognition of his outstanding service Ian was awarded the Choir's highest award, the Golden Lyre in 2003.
Choir Activities
The Choir has had a busy program over the past few months. On 25 July we traveled to Oamaru and entertained an appreciative North Otago audience in the magnificently refurbished Oamaru Opera House. We took part in a worship service at East Taieri Presbyterian Church on 13 September, and on 31 October we presented a fund raising concert at Tokomairiro Presbyterian Church, Milton as part of their church restoration project. Choir members greatly enjoy these engagements which project the Choir's profile around the province.
Finally, we were all greatly honoured when visiting international Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel graciously accepted Honorary Membership of the Choir at his Dunedin concert on 9 June in recognition of his association with the Choir.
The Choir held its Annual General Meeting on 6 April 2009 and was pleased to elect Keith Ashton, a choir member of 29 years standing, to the office of President, replacing Syd Broadley after 2 years valued service.
On committee, Dave Turner retired after 5 years excellent work and he was replaced by Ray Thorn.
Saturday 9th May 2009, Oak Hall, East Taieri Presbyterian Church
Choir members and partners enjoyed a great social evening at East Taieri which was organised by Baritone Cam Shaw. A packed evening that included a tasty 3 course dinner intermixed with entertainment provided by our very own choir members; Dave Turner, Harry Johnson, Russell Clark, and Peter Appleby and his wife Alison.
Another highlight was a short "Drama" themed around the advancement of technology and was hilariously pulled off by Second Tenor Anthony Skegg and Baritone Peter Smart, who were dressed as "cavemen". The dialogue was simple but effective!!
The evening concluded with the singing of "Go Now In Peace".
A big thank you goes to Cam for organising a great evening. We all look forward to the next one!
Obituaries
Des Kelly
With deep regret we record the death of Des Kelly, a very long and faithful member of the 1st Tenor section. Des joined the Choir in 1974 and was awarded his 35 year service badge in 2009. He attained his Life Membership in 1999. He used to enjoy our out of town sing-outs and along with Dave Turner provided a duet item at a charity concert in Winton in 1995. Our deepest sympathy goes out to his wife Betty and family.
David Peacock
The Choir was deeply shocked over the sudden death of 1st Bass David Peacock on 30 October. He joined the Choir in 2006 and will be sadly missed by his fellow singers. Our sincere condolences are extended to his wife Pam and family.