Review: NZ National Youth Choir at Baradene College

There were smiles all around at the NZ National Youth Choir's Saturday concert - from the audience being treated to such a magnificent display of choral prowess, and from the choristers themselves, rapt in their music-making.

Two Renaissance motets from Tallis and the Mexican Juan Gutierrez de Padilla, conducted by James Tibbles, showcased the choir's discipline and musicianship, proving an excuse for a flood of all-embracing Alleluias.

Karen Grylls, taking over from Tibbles, continued the a cappella vein with Josef Swider's Cantus Gloriosus pitting bold male chorusing against slightly jazzy textures from the women.

Alfred Schnittke's Lord's Prayer, in resonant Russian, was compelling in its intensity, the choir being drawn by Grylls from roar to whisper with no sacrifice of tonal quality.

After interval, singers were scattered around the hall for Jesus gjor meg stille by Norwegian Grete Pedersen, creating a backdrop of pointillist colours for forthright, thrilling solos.

Eric Whiteacre's Cloudburst, sung from the stage, called for handbells and the mysterious sounds of snapping fingers to create its magic. And who could resist the primal power of Fonseca's Jubiaba?

Among the New Zealand offerings, Jack Body's 1975 Carol to Saint Stephen might have been written yesterday, tearing apart its medieval carol with almost theatrical effect.

The singers also did full justice to the intricate voicings of Sarah McCallum's The Moon's glow once lit and the final chant-like layerings of David Hamilton's Matariki.

When encore time came, Te Iwi e was as bracing a waiata as one could wish for but the Welsh Suo-gan would have been better unaccompanied, without the burden of its sugary piano.