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Friday, September 5, 2008

Critique

Götzis Male Voice Choir from Austria 4th August 2008

A large audience gave this visiting choir of 45 members an enthusiastic welcome in the Community Hall on Monday last. The choir hails from the Voralberg region and was founded in 1900. The programme was divided into two sections – with more serious works during the first half and popular items after interval. It was good to listen to a cappella (unaccompanied) singing by an ensemble of men with an impressive range of voices from deep resonant basso profundo to the lightest of lyrical tenors. The audience was treated to wholesome sounds and much energetic singing. This was particularly evident during the second half with works from Franz Lehar’s operetta The Merry Widow, a Negro Spiritual – Steal Away, ending with a selection of traditional African songs of which the arrangement of N’kosi Sikelel’ iAfrika was noteworthy with its background of an effective drone and evocative animal sound effects reminiscent of the African wild.
In the end it is the enjoyment or otherwise of the audience that matters most and judging by the rapt attention and spontaneous applause the concert obviously gave immense pleasure. Our thanks to the Stilbaai Music Society for taking the trouble to mount yet another evening of worthwhile live music.

John Stonier

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