Lexus Song Quest at the Auckland Town Hall

Christopher Doig was just the right MC for the inaugural Lexus Song Quest and his introductions were warm, collegial, to the point.

Throughout the evening there was a real buzz of excitement as six young singers competed for the country's premier prize.

Only Joanna Heslop, with an ambitious programme of Rachmaninov, Smetana and Gounod, disappointed, with perilous intonation.

Robert Tucker spun nostalgic dreams in Pierrots Tanzlied by Korngold while the soignee Penelope Muir, changing gowns between the Lieder and aria shifts, showed real theatrical savvy in song from Menotti's The Medium, aided by the glittering resources of the NZSO under Michael Lloyd.

We were aware that these performances comprised only part of the final decision-making and, at the end of the evening, judge Grace Bumbry admitted her job had been difficult, with little to choose between the six singers.

Nevertheless, the winner, Madeleine Pierard did have an edge on her fellow singers, moving from a slightly nervous Duparc song to confident, well-articulated Mozart (the fiery Parto, parto) and an Una voce poco fa that balanced flash and elegance in perfect proportions.

The irrepressible Allison Cormack came up with luxuriantly phrased Brahms, creamy Puccini (Senza mamma from Suor Angelica) but her third choice, Victor Herbert's Art is calling for me seemed too much the party-piece, needing much clearer diction to delight as it should. Hers was a well deserved second place.

It must have been Jamie Frater's thoughtful account of Onegin's aria that secured him third placing. To my ears, his Ravel Chanson a boire needed more insouciance, his But who may abide had what sounded like a few moments of cold panic when Handel's refiners fire reared up

Bumbry's final address was beautifully couched and considered. Doig had already paid tribute to pianist Terence Dennis; Bumbry praised artistic administrator Diana Cable, describing her as a woman who was fine, gentle and strong, the very ingredients you need for an arts organisation.

With Cable at the helm, along with the support of the New Zealand International Arts Festival and the generous patronage of Lexus, we can only hope that this Song Quest will be with us for years to come.