Youth performers entertain crowd

Review by: Marian Poole. 'Mozart's Monster Mash' Dunedin Town Hall, Saturday, July 20, 2022

Dunedin Symphony Orchestra and City Choir Dunedin created a true sense of the combined strengths of our music community by drawing on the forces of local and provincial groups including Invercargill Symphonia, Central Otago Regional Orchestra, Dunedin City Wind Orchestra, Waitaki Summer School, Logan Park High School Band and Choir, Saturday Morning Music Classes’ Orchestra, Knox Church Junior Choir and Dunedin Youth Orchestra. (My apologies for any omissions). All works were arranged for the calibre of the performers by Ryan Youens and Yvette Audain.

The compere who introduced herself as Harriet, stepped in at the last moment to successfully raise audience participation for the ‘Monster Mash from the Rocky Horror Show and expectations for a fault free second half. A repeat of the first half,In which faults of the first were faithfully repeated with a high degree of accuracy, to nobody’s surprise or alarm. Both drew a high level of applause.

Solos from esteemed Performance students - soprano Rhiannon Cooper, violinist Skyla Murray and pianist Cameron Monteath - were all deservedly rewarded with stamping and cheers. The ensemble sound was credit to all the pupils’ teachers. Mozart’s ‘Lacrimosa’ from Requiem and ‘Ave verum corpus’ were beautifully executed. Haydn’s ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ from Messiah brought some Prom loyalists to their feet.

Congratulations are due to all the organisers for pulling off a logistical miracle in which many hands made light work. Congratulations to those who are new to the limelight and to the parents who arrived with their child’s favourite toy snuggled under their coat collar

A life affirming experience.