KEY POINTS:
With New Zealand media on tenterhooks over our yachtsmen's fate in Valencia, James Tibbles, compering the Tower New Zealand Youth Choir's farewell concert last Tuesday, pointed out that these young choristers are in the same league as Dean Barker and his sailors, a fact that was acknowledged by the capacity audience in Holy Trinity Cathedral.
The choir has won top international prizes and, in times when we need to take our culture beyond these shores, they are sterling ambassadors, giving our songs and waiata a place in the concert halls of the world.
These 50 singers have now worked with conductor Karen Grylls for three years and the musicianship that has been gained shone through every item on Tuesday's programme.
Few professional ensembles could rival the a cappella precision of Rossini's O Salutaris Hostia or Healey Willan's Rise up, my Love, my Fair One.
A Kodaly Miserere capitalised on the strength of the men's voices, and Hrusovsky's Rytmus, delivered by memory, positively bristled with energy.
Schnittke's Lord's Prayer, a souvenir of the choir's 2004 Russian visit, would have challenged any native Russian choir with its vibrant delivery and finely modulated textures.
Although the New Zealand works in the choir's tour list are a mite conservative (the most adventurous writing of the evening came in two Magic Songs by Canadian R. Murray Schafer), the high point of the programme was Douglas Mews' Ghosts, Fire, Water.
With an anti-nuclear message that cannot be repeated too often, this piece's substantial 10 minutes were particularly welcome in the midst of so many shorter works.
Grylls moulded the different components of the score with skill and discretion, balancing song and speech as well as the persuasive mezzo of Sarah Hogg with full-voiced choir.
Hogg was not the only fine soloist.
In a bracket of spirituals, Bonaventure Allan-Moetaua's tenor floated enthrallingly over a fervent There is a balm in Gilead.
These singers will also take the sounds and music of Polynesia on this tour.
Samoa Silasila, intricately woven in movement and music, was composed by Steven Rapana, another tenor from the choir.
Not only was this visually arresting in its choreographed presentation, but it was a far more coherent musical statement than any of the Maori items which concluded the concert.
REVIEW
What: Tower New Zealand Youth Choir
Where: Holy Trinity Cathedral
Reviewer: William Dart
