Choir enjoys the concert
Garth Wilshere
Orpheus Choir An Evening with Cole Porter, Conductor Mark W. Dorrell With Sarah Lineham, Chris Crowe and Vector Orchestra Players, Wellington Town Hall, October 7, Reviewed by Garth Wilshere.
THIS concert was in part a repeat of a successful one given two years ago with the same soloists, here with some extra arrangements in the mix.
For the Orpheus Choir, songs from American musicals by the legendary composer Cole Porter is not their normal familiar repertoire but the choir entered into the spirit of the pieces with gusto and enthusiasm.
The first song in an interesting arrangement by Phillip Kern was appropriate – Another Op’nin’, Another Show which they handled with style.
Most of the other arrangements vocal and instrumental, by the experienced Wayne Senior, I found disappointing, less interesting, predictable, repetitive in instrumental style and samey with not enough variety to distinguish the songs from one another.
However they were presented well by choir, soloists and band.
The Latin Medley had some nice percussion and marimba effects from Brent Stewart particularly in “Begin the Beguine” which added some pizzazz which was often missing in the arrangements. The pedestrian writing for drum kit and guitar didn’t allow the players’ natural flair to come through often enough.
Even though both Sarah Lineham and Chris Crowe sang nicely, they were a little tepid and bland and short of real sass and spice, for instance in “Now You Has Jazz/Blow Gabriel Blow which missed the belt sound and passion.
The choir in the Paris Medley, joined by Lineham was attractively done and captured the moody atmosphere nicely and the Too Darn Hot Medley had some sizzle which was fun. The Anything Goes Medley had the appropriate feel.
Conductor Mark W Dorrell was lively and energetic and showed his chops with some beautifully sensitive piano accompaniment for the soloists in True Love and Where is the Life.
With the soloists miked, better balances might have been achieved with some subtle miking of the choir and orchestra as well.
The Orpheus were clearly enjoying working with their new director, making the whole an enjoyable night.
THIS concert was in part a repeat of a successful one given two years ago with the same soloists, here with some extra arrangements in the mix.
For the Orpheus Choir, songs from American musicals by the legendary composer Cole Porter is not their normal familiar repertoire but the choir entered into the spirit of the pieces with gusto and enthusiasm.
The first song in an interesting arrangement by Phillip Kern was appropriate – Another Op’nin’, Another Show which they handled with style.
Most of the other arrangements vocal and instrumental, by the experienced Wayne Senior, I found disappointing, less interesting, predictable, repetitive in instrumental style and samey with not enough variety to distinguish the songs from one another.
However they were presented well by choir, soloists and band.
The Latin Medley had some nice percussion and marimba effects from Brent Stewart particularly in “Begin the Beguine” which added some pizzazz which was often missing in the arrangements. The pedestrian writing for drum kit and guitar didn’t allow the players’ natural flair to come through often enough.
Even though both Sarah Lineham and Chris Crowe sang nicely, they were a little tepid and bland and short of real sass and spice, for instance in “Now You Has Jazz/Blow Gabriel Blow which missed the belt sound and passion.
The choir in the Paris Medley, joined by Lineham was attractively done and captured the moody atmosphere nicely and the Too Darn Hot Medley had some sizzle which was fun. The Anything Goes Medley had the appropriate feel.
Conductor Mark W Dorrell was lively and energetic and showed his chops with some beautifully sensitive piano accompaniment for the soloists in True Love and Where is the Life.
With the soloists miked, better balances might have been achieved with some subtle miking of the choir and orchestra as well.
The Orpheus were clearly enjoying working with their new director, making the whole an enjoyable night.
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