Each of the choirs have practiced separately during the past months and tonight’s performance at the Liberty Centre in Whakatane was their second performance, the first being a fortnight ago in Gisborne at the Holy Trinity Church.  Both performances took place under the baton of David Vine as guest conductor.

Handel wrote the role of Solomon for a female contralto.  Auckland based contralto Patricia Wackrow gave the role power and authority, showing at times the lighter and higher register her voice is capable of. No stranger to the Eastern Bay of Plenty, Patricia is a seasoned performer with the Edgecumbe Choir and once again didn’t disappoint the audience.

Her role of Solomon was very supported by fellow soloists and choir. Gisborne based Soprano, Catherine MacDonald, singing both the Queen and 1^st woman, delighted the audience. Her voice was quite enchanting, lyrical, light, airy but with the power and clear diction required for such a role. I do hope the Eastern Bay can see more of her.

Second soprano, Rotorua based Elizabeth Pilaar, as the second woman gave a solid performance, showing a good understanding of the role and the confidence she no doubt displays as musical director of Rotorua’s ‘Con Spirito”.

Zadok is a minor role but one which requires the singer to sit for long periods and then perform for short periods. Tenor Michael Rumping showed the audience he was up to the task and gave a creditable performance which will add to his repertoire as he completes his musical studies at Waikato University.

Gisborne based Baritone Gavin Maclean’s role as the Levite was small and delivered early in the piece, but nevertheless well presented.

Guest conductor David Vine didn’t miss a beat. Truly a professional, the evenings performance reflected his wide experience not only as a performer of piano and harpsichord but also for his work with most of the major orchestras and choirs of New Zealand.

Credit must go to the commitment of the members of the combined choirs, and to Tony Hogg, musical director for the Edgecumbe choir.  The choirs worked together perfectly in unison, no mean feat given their limited opportunity to rehearse together and the geographical barriers of distance.

Solomon is well-known for its choruses, and the combined choruses were superb.  I must make special mention of the Nightingale chorus “May no rash intruder’ ’ at the end of act one. The chorus’s graceful interpretation and bell like tone was quite mesmerising. 

The orchestra players provided a lively and grand flavour to the evening.  Warm strings, triumphant trumpets and a timpani section which gave military order were used to good effect in supporting the soloists and choirs.

Solomon is one of Handel’s finest oratorios.  This performance was greatly welcomed by the audience and full marks must go to all of those who worked together to bring the evening’s performance to fruition.

Gemini