Anzac Day RSA Concert
Dunedin Town Hall
Monday, April 25
My day of personal reflections and memories of Anzac events, especially of years ago in Clinton where the war memorial lists the name of the uncle I was never to know, concluded with Anzac Day Revue in the Dunedin Town Hall with the RSA Choir (conductor Michael McConnell) and supporting artists.
Gentlemen of the Choir, many of whom must find moving on stage and standing to sing, physically more demanding as the years roll on, gave of their very best in a programme of favourites. Among the highlights were the patriotic performance of both God Defend New Zealand and Advance Australia Fair, which opened the programme with passion and vocal strength, a well-paced vibrant rendition of Seventy-six Trombones and a particularly well-interpreted version of Waltzing Matilda.
At 19 years of age, RSA Choir scholar Alex Wilson has strong rich tone with confident stage delivery. He sang Vaughan Williams' Linden Lea and If I Loved You from Carousel before changing style to solo with the choir in What the World Needs Now is Love.
Ladies of the Red Cross Choir (directed by Eleanor Moyle) presented a number of items and also joined with the RSA Choir for a nostalgic Vera Lynn Medley.
Rousing brass numbers from Kaikorai Metropolitan Brass (conductor Norman Thorn) and a mellow-toned Doyles Lament were enjoyed by all. Their prize-winning quartet also performed before the final massed item The Old Hundredth.
A Ceremony of Remembrance with presenting of flags, reading of the Ode and Last Post and reveille (trumpeter Ralph Miller) endorsed the significance of April 25.
Accompanying were Denis McCombe, Dulcie Jones, Coral Billing and Tom McGrath, and the evening was excellently compered by a kilted Alisdair Morrison.
- Elizabeth Bouman
