CRYSTAL PALACE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 292, 10 December 1936, Page 16

CRYSTAL PALACE.

BRIGHT MEMORIES.

MR. ROBERT PARKER, C.M.G,

VISION OF ADELINA PATTI. Probably 110 one in New Zealand lias such vivid memories of the Crystal Palace, as it was in the beginning, than Mr. Robert Parker, C.M.G., who now lies on a bed of sickness at bis home in Molesworth Street, Wellington. Mr.

Parker, now a nonagenarian, was a small boy in London when the Crystal Palace was built in Hyde Park for the exhibition hold und?r tiie auspices of the Prince Consort, but he had grown up somewhat by the time it was re-erected at Sydenham, some seven or eight miles away from its original site. That was in 1854. It was not until 1858, however, that he first" remembered being taken to a festival at the Crystal Palace. That festival was organised by the militant section of the musical people of that time who favoured the tonic sol-fa as against the traditional notation in music, and who had succeeded in having it introduced •in some of the schools. At this festival there were between 4000 and 5000 engaged in the chorus. They gave a concert in the grand transept, with which he was very much impressed. After that there were few holidays that Mr. Parker did not spend in the wonderful grounds and halls of the Palace—whenever he had sufficient pocket money to pay the admission fee. "It was at the Crystal Palace that I gained my first exerience of orchestral music," said Mr. Parker in the course of an interview with the "Dominion" at the week-end. First Handel Festival. "After an experimental performance the first great Handel festival at the Crystal Palace was in 1859, the centenary of the death of Handel," said Mr. Parker. "I was present at the one held in 1562, on which occasion Adelina Patti made her first appearance (outside opera) in London. I remember as though it were yesterday her strikingly graphic singing of the air, het the Bright Seraphim, 5 with Tom Harper, the finest English trumpeter, playing a trumpet obligato. The tour de force of that number was the sustained double shake at the end, which voice and trumpet took in thirds. It simply electrified the audience of some 15,000 people, and no wonder, for the blending of voice and instru- j ment was perfect. 'The Messiah,' 'Israel in Egypt,' and a miscellaneous selection were performed at that festival. Sir Michael Costa.

"Most of the performances at Crystal Palace down to 1884 were given under the direction of Michael (afterward Sir Michael) Costa, who also conducted the opera at Covent Garden. Costa was the first conductor in England who insisted upon discipline in large choral bodies, such as the choirs, which sang in these great festivals at Crystal Palace. I see the Handel festival music has heen ■burnt in the fire. Possibly that music included the parts used by Costa. He would not allow the members of the chorus to have full scores of the oratorio to sing from, as they have in New Zealand, but each section had its own , part, which meant that they had to be good readers. I can also remember the fine organ recitals given in .the Palace by Best. It was a very fine organ theft. Of course, it has been enlarged and renewed a good deal since those days. It was built by Gray and Davidson, and was, at that time, considered the best of its kind in the Kingdom. "I remember seeing John Ruskin in the Oriental courts of the Crystal Palace. He was examining with a critical expression the examples of decorative art in those courts." Mr. Parker also recalled hearing the great Grisi sing at the Crystal Palace, but that was in the days of her decline, - but for all that the dear tolerant London public gave her a good reception. He also recalled hearing at Covent Garden Opera House what is said, to-have been the finest cast ever heard in Gounod's "Faust." ■ Mr. Parker said that Sir .Michael Costa died in 1884, and' was succeeded by August (late Sir' August) .Manns, and it was Manns who conducted a Handel festival at the Palace in 1900, tturing which year Mr. Parker visited his native London. Until Hans Richter • came to London in the 'eightes, the Saturday Crystal Palace concerts formed the rendezvous for all lovers of the . finest orchestral music. Many great works were performed, and many great artists appeared from week to week at those Saturday concerts.