Music / “Light Eternal”, The Llewellyn Choir, conducted by Matthew Stuckings. At Wesley Uniting Church, May 28. Reviewed by TONY MAGEE.

IN presenting a program of English Choral Music, Llewellyn Choir attempted a demanding program of eight works from composers Samuel S Wesley, John Tavener, Herbert Howells, Cecilia McDowall, Gerald Finzi, Charles Villers Stanford, Penelope Thwaites and Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Soloists Jade McFaul, Veronica Thwaites-Brown, Charles Hudson and Colin Milner contributed to many of these and were all excellent and really lifted the evening during their performances.

In addition, Anthony Smith who accompanied on both organ and piano, played superbly. The Wesley organ is sounding magnificent, plus his pianistic skills were so supportive – a golden tone, stylishly played and simpatico.

The choir handled the Finzi quite well.  His “Magnificat” includes a great deal of unison singing which they were able to project powerfully and in tune with suitable dynamic shadings.

“Lead, Kindly Light” by British- Australian composer Penelope Thwaites was performed well, with a particularly nice entry from the tenors and basses in the second verse.

Finally, some of “Lord, thou hast been our refuge”, a setting of Psalm 90 by Ralph Vaughan Williams, was performed well, particularly when reprised in unison.

The rest of the program, which was most of it, was disappointing.

The standard of the Llewellyn Choir has dropped significantly.