FAMOUS RUSSIAN COSSACKS.

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 13, 15 July 1937, Page 21

FAMOUS RUSSIAN COSSACKS.

Initiating a Dominion tour at Wellington on July 31 is the Don Cossack Choir of General Platoff tradition, which is being presented in New Zealand by Messrs. J. C. Williamson and J. and N. Tait. Its visit to New Zealand and Australia is in furtherance of a world lour begun in 1933. With headquarters at Prague. Czechoslovakia, the choir is a body of men whose singing is of spiritual beauty, and round, masculine richness. There are close on thirty choristers, whose production and technique are qualities to marvel at. It has been a revelation in all countries privileged to hear this famous organisation. The programmes include such rare and beautiful numbers as "Sarie Marais," a glorified version, Bortnianski's "Te Deum," Arhaugelsky's "Hear My Prayer, Oh God," Charkovsky's "Blessed Art Thou, Oh Lord," Donizetti's setting of the "Aye Maria," Kolotiline's ''Signals," Arhaugelsky's Volga Boat Song, a Cossadk number, "PlatoiT Song," the singing dance of the Caucasians. "Les- i guika," the popular Russian song, ' "Stenka Rasin," the lovely ''Evening i B-jlls," a comic song, "Malania," and 1 the singing dance of the Don Cos- 1 sacks. "Kosatchek." Novel stage ef- 1 fects give glamour to some of the num- < bers, and dances of traditional, sensa- > tional, and novel.types add interest to < the memorable concerts to be given by s the distinguished visitors under their I able conductor, Nicolas Kostrukoff. c