Performance: NZ Youth Choir

Concert Chamber, Auckland

Review: Tara Werner

With the reputation of being the "Choir of the World" behind it and the added benefit of sponsorship by Tower, the once uncertain finances of the New Zealand Youth Choir are now stable.

Last December musical director Karen Grylls had the unenviable task of auditioning this year's choir.

From 180 keen young voices from all over the country she chose 62, who meet every few months to sing in strenuous rehearsal.

Given that this particular group has been together only a relatively short time it is quite remarkable what they are capable of.

Grylls is not afraid to get her singers to tackle difficult repertoire, as this concert made clear.

And yet, despite the enthusiasm of both choir and audience alike (it was pleasing to see so many youthful supporters), a certain sameness seemed to emerge.

Possibly this had more to do with the programme than the singing. Many of the contemporary pieces had a highly individual flavour but ultimately there was too little light and shade to sustain interest.

Having said that, each of the works received a disciplined performance, with clarity of diction abounding. This was most noticeable in David Childs' mellow antiphon Salve Regina, with its gentle harmonies.

And Robert Pearsall's romantic Lay a Garland highlighted some even part-singing from the entire choir.

But the singers seemed most uncomfortable with Bob Chilcott's choral cantata The Making of the Drum, many looking rather sheepish when required to play percussion or clap in rhythm.

And while the addition of two contemporary Maori waiata made a nice change to the repertoire, they were lacking any extrovert qualities and sounded rather too refined.

Still, given the gruelling nature of their rehearsal schedule, the New Zealand Youth Choir have much to be proud of, not least their enterprising and ambitious choral goal-setting.