AGAIN THE ORCHESTRA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 78, 2 April 1932, Page 7

AGAIN THE ORCHESTRA.

CIVIC THEATRE VENTURE. NEW COMBINATION FORMED. The reintroduetion of orchestral music lias been decided upon by the manage- i ment of the Civic Theatre, and commencing on Friday next an orchestra will be in attendance for the evening performances. This experiment will be j keenly watched, not only by the patrons of the theatre, but also by the musicians of the community, many of whom have been out of employment practically since the introduction of the talkies. Mr. Harold Baxter, leader of the IYA orchestra, will be the conductor. He will have 15 musicians under his baton, and a high standard of music is promised. The orchestra will play twice during the evening—an overture and an, entr'acte. Mr. Baxter intends to include in his first programme a group of the more popular classics and semi-classical overtures as well as selections from modern light opera and musical plays. In again introducing the orchestra, the Civic Theatre is following the lead of other countries. During the silent picture period orchestras were a feature of all cinemas and the more important houses competed with each other for the best conductors and musicians. Early in the career of the talking screen the fine orchestras which were such a feature of the West End theatres in London were swept away, but they have reappeared, in many instances enlarged and improved. London cinemas employ such popular musical combinations as de Groot and his famous orchestra, formerly of the Piccadilly Hotel. Musical organisations in Auckland have had a quiet time for a lengthy period and if the orchestra again becomes a popular feature of leading picture houses many of their members will be again in employment.