Southern Consort of Voices is a well-established Dunedin a capella group directed by Daniel Kelly.
Due to Covid restrictions, Saturday evening has been their only recital for this year and a good-sized audience enjoyed the programme of songs for Christmas.
St Paul’s Cathedral was the venue, and the repertoire in which this group excels traditionally "belongs" in such an environment.
With repairs to the cathedral roof now completed and soft purple lighting filling the space behind the singers, the 16-voice harmonic precision drifted happily into the vast space above.
Comprehensive programme notes enhanced the listening experience, as nothing was sung in English.
The consort began with Frohlocket, ihr Volker auf Erden, by Mendelssohn, followed by two 16th century pieces — an excellent delivery of Bogorodyitse dyevo, raduysya, by Rachmaninoff, which achieved impressive extremes of legato for the blended contrapuntal texture and a stunning climax, and then the same text set by Arvo Part (1935) showed a complete contrast in both rhythm and dynamics.
A modern setting of Angelis suis Deus (Vytautas Miskinis, 1954) featured subtle dissonance and unexpected changes in tonality.
A Slavonic piece, Spasyenyiye sodyelal, by Pavel Chesnokov, ended with a series of Alleluias.
New Zealand composer David Childs’ work is very popular with choirs.
The harmonies of his Salve Regina and O Magnum Mysterium were both well-negotiated, the latter drawing big strong volume from this small group, and suggesting a much larger choir.
An arrangement of another New Zealand work — Ka Waiata ki a Maria achieved a fine waiata style with solo overlay from baritone Kieran Kelly.
Several other composers were represented and in keeping with the Christmas theme.
The one-hour recital concluded with Karl Jenkins’ arrangement of Gaudete, which featured a hearty and uplifting repeating chorus of "Rejoice, Rejoice! Christ is Born of the Virgin Mary".
