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Choral: Gay choirs on a Pacific Rim tour

Sat 8 Oct 2005 In: Music View at Wayback View at NDHA

Tonight our Aussie cousins, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir, dropped over for a concert with our local Gals. And, yes, it was something of an 'anything you can sing, we can sing better' event, as the two groups took turns throwing more and more musical morsels on the barbie, escorting a large and adoring audience on a vocal tour of the Pacific rim (strange, no joke from MC David Steemson there... perhaps too obvious, even for him?). The rivalry theme reached its height with a rather chaotic encore, Anzac Anthem, which had to be seen as well as heard to be believed - or maybe disbelieved. But when it came to the humorous side of the competition, the Aussies had us beat (well, they have given the world Kath and Kim, and what have we done? Gone by lunchtime...? Mainstream New Zealanders? My Left Testicle?) Their rendition of Monty Python's Lumberjack Song reassured us all that men wearing bras under their shirts can still be relied on to get a great response from an audience; and then that tired old drag-queen classic 'Wash that Man Out of My Hair" was definitely the visual highpoint of the show. I mean, who can resist an Ozzie bloke in a sequinned shower cap? But when it came to soul, we had them licked - with a beautiful song and moving performance of Soneto de la Noche, words by the celebrated poet Pablo Neruda. Here the alto voices in particular added a clarity and sincerity that was most absorbing and brought a tear to this hardened old eye. The Aussies countered with a fascinating Aboriginal-inspired soundscape (Past Life Melodies), yet it was the combined voices of the two choirs' women in the Humming Chorus from Madame Butterfly that I found to be the other emotional highpoint of the evening. And strangely, given the competitive nature of the evening, it was the combined voices of both choirs that proved most satisfying overall - partly because that combination overcame the spongey, sound-absorbing acoustic of the Raye Freedman Arts Centre. With accompanist Gareth Chan providing some gutsy piano, California Dreaming was a fabulous second half opener, and I could have done with a lot more of the toe-tapping show opener One Voice (could they all get together and do the Foundations song book puhleeze). A charming young visitor from Oz drew the winning raffle ticket - which included not only a holiday in a Coromandel hideaway but some shelf brackets!!! (I bet those Aussies will see us in a different light after hearing about that prize!) And despite seeming somewhat under-rehearsed, MC Steemson proved his usual spunky and charming self. All in all, a satisfyingly gay and lesbian night out. John Curry - 8th October 2005    

Credit: John Curry

First published: Saturday, 8th October 2005 - 12:00pm

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