THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 255, 27 October 1928, Page 9 (Supplement)

THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

GOSSIP OF THE PLATFORM. FROM FAR AND NEAR.

(By ORPHEUS.)

I understand that a grand opera choir is being formed in Wellington under the conductorship of Mr. H. T. White.

The King of Sweden has conferred on Joseph Hislop, the well-known- Scottish tenor, the decoration of Knight of the Royal Order of Vaea.

The soloists for the Royal Wellington Choral Union's performance of "The Messiah," ou December 13, will be soprano, Miss Christina Ormiston, Auckland; contralto, Miss Mina Caldow, Auckland; tenor, Mr. Hubert Carter, Wanganui; and baritone, Mr. William Watters, Palmerston North.

Miss Etta Field, the well-known Auckland singer, intends leaving the Dominion within the next few months in order to take up her residence in Sydney. Before going she will probably visit Wellington and Christchurch, and other cities in the South. It is to be hoped that the public will be given an opportunity of hearing her sing before she leaves Auckland.

The Auckland Society of Musicians will give a members' evening at the Lyceum Club on Monday, November 19, to commemorate the Schubert Centenary. A programme composed entirely of Schubert music will be presented, and Miss Alice Law will read a short account of the composer's life.

Miss Alma McGruer, who will sing the title role in Alfred Hill's Maori cantata, "Hinemoa," next Thursday evening, is one of our most promising sopranos. Her voice is considered by Mr. Fraser Gango to be one of the two outstanding voices he had heard in the

Dominion. Hiss McGruer, besides having the natural gift of a good vocal organ, is also a sound musieion, being both an accomplished pianiste and violinist. With these great advantages this talented young Aucklander should go a long way.

I understand that arrangements have now been completed for the Eoyal Wellington Choral Union to visit Nelson and assist the Harmonic Society in "The Messiah" at the opening of the Majestic Theatre. One hundred and twenty members will leave Wellington on December 15, after the "Messiah" performance in that city, and the Nelson concert will take place oh Monday, 17th, under the baton of Mr. John Bishop, the Wellington conductor. It is hoped that the same soloists will be available at Nelson as at Wellington.

Are' we to have only one concert a month in future from the Municipal I Band ? After having gone to the expense and trouble of getting together such an exceptionally fine musical combination as the band, it seems to me that the Citffiy Council should make more use of it than this. Mr. Christopher Smith has in the past managed to cover an enormous range of music, and the band, as a result, is of inestimable value to tie public from an educational point of view. I am sure I am not alone in expressing the hope that the council will reconsider its decision in regard to the number of performances.

The newly-formed orchestra of the Auckland Amateur Operatic Society has had eleven rehearsals so far, and the conductor, Mr. P. A. Richards, tells me he is very pleased with the progress it has made. The players have modestly decided that they are not yet sufficiently good for a public performance, and have postponed their advent on the platform until next season, when they hope to 1 get well under way. There is still need of more instruments, particularly brass ! and woodwind, and any newcomers will, be exceedingly welcome. The orchestra: intends to give a social evening in about-: a month's time, to finish up the current; season. Great credit is due to the; Operatic Society for the encouragement, financial and otherwise, it has given to the orchestra, and in time these; amateurs will be able to take their place as the regular orchestra of the society.' The purely amateur status it insists on at present will, I am glad to say, be maintained in future. " I The Muncipal Band will play at its first concert in November the following items:—"Marche Heroique" (Saint Sacra); Overture, "Banditen Streiche" (Suppe); grand selection, "Brahm's Melodies" (Stretton); "Invitation to the Walts" (Weber) j Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 (Lisrt)j Suite, Ancient (Wm. Bird); selection, "Rip fan Winkle" (Planquette). Miss Kay Christie will sing "Cupid at the Ferry" (Edward German), and Aria, "O Don Fatale" (Verdi), and there will be a flute solo by Mr. Hal C. McLennan, a cornet solo by Mr. Fred Bowes, and a euphonium solo by Mr. M. J. Purchase. The band concert for the first Saturday in December will be an all-Schubert one, in commemoration of the centenary, which on November 19th. A programme will be arranged which will be representative of all types of Schubert works, vocal and instrumental. The performance at the Zoo on November 18 will also hajj a strong Schubert flavour