Exceptional choral blend

Soundscapes, Southern Consort of Voices, St Joseph’s Chapel, Sunday 11 May 2025

Review by Judy Bellingham in Otago Daily Times Monday, 12 May 2025 from www.odt.co.nz/entertainment/music/exceptional-choral-blend.

The well-titled programme Soundscapes presented by the Southern Consort of Voices entertained a large audience in St Joseph’s Chapel yesterday afternoon.

The consort’s director, Daniel Kelly, has a reputation for adventurous programming and this programme was no exception.

Music spanning five centuries, from five different countries, and sung in four different languages disclosed significant choral diversity.

Kelly’s spoken introductions were personable and added to the audience’s enjoyment and understanding of the music, much of which was by lesser-known composers.

The choral blend from the 17 singers was exceptional, although at times the soprano mix was not optimal.

The beautiful acoustics within the chapel were used to great effect with different choral placings at the front, the back, and the sides to create antiphonal impacts. However, this did cause occasional rhythmic problems especially in Tallis’ Miserere Nostri.

Technically, the choir sings with a wide range of dynamics which never lose vocal focus, outstanding crescendi and diminuendi, and healthy unforced vocal tone.

The opening piece Bring us, O Lord God by Harris allowed the choir to settle down and revealed delicately shaped phrases with some excellent legato linking from the sopranos. Reger’s Nachtlied enabled the choir’s attention to linguistic detail to shine with excellent German.

The humming in Aftonen by Alfven carried effortlessly, and the choir’s robust choral sound was heard in Eric Whitacre’s Lux Urumque. An unusual setting of Ave Maris Stella by Sjoberg featured spoken and whispered vocal effects.

The final four pieces lifted the overall mood of the programme which had been a little staid. Propitiously, Sleepsong by Lovland empowered the choir to become successful storytellers.

Excellent soloists within the choir were sopranos Cathy Highton-Sim and Kathryn Gardner, and tenors Kieran Kelly and Ewen Clarke-Wallace.