THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 282, 27 November 1937, Page 17

THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

NOTES OF THE DAY. FROM FAR AND NEAR.

(By ORPHEUS.)

The following soloists have been selected for the Royal Wellington Choral Union's performance of Handel's "Messiah" on Monday evening, December 6:—Mrs. Evelyn Davies (Hawera), soprano; Mrs. Wilfrid Andrews, contralto; Mr. Leslie Russell (Auckland), tenor; Mr. Geoff. Colledge, bass. Comedy Harmonists. The many who enjoyed the concerts given recently by that clever sextet of Austrian musicians, the Comedy Harmonists, may be interested to hear that they will return to Auckland on December 23; also that they are so pleased with Australia and New Zealand that they have decided to pay us another visit in 1030. A Mirror Trick. Patrons at pianoforte recitals will no longer have to crane tlfeir necks to see a piano artist's hands in action. An American inventor has designed a mirror which makes the pianist's hands visible from every quarter of an auditorium. The use of this will, it is claimed, make the seats on the right side of the bouse as desirable as those on the left. Beloved Conductor to Retire. The news that Dr. W. E. Thomas, who for 32J years has been conductor of the Royal Auckland Choir, has decided not to seek reappointment to that post for the future will be received with great regret in the world of music. This intimation is contained in the programme of the choir's next concert, to be given on December 2. This occasion, therefore, will probably be the last time that the popular and much-beloved conductor will be associated with the choir.

Edward Goll, Pianist. According to Australian advices Mr. Edward Goll, formerly associated with the late Henri Verbrugghen, is to return to the concert platform in Melbourne after an enforced absence of over two years. Since his arrival in Australia in 1914 this finely equipped pianist has occupied a dominating position in the musical life of Victoria. His varied and comprehensive repertoire will be displayed this season in 14 historical programmes designed to illustrate the growth and expansion of keyboard literature. Messiah Festival Arrangements. At a conference held recently between the committee of the Auckland Choral Society and the secretary of the Royal Wellington Choral Union, Mr. W. E. Caldow, it was arranged that Mr. Stanley Oliver, who will be the guest conductor at the combined performance on December 11, should rehearse with the Auckland society's chorus on Wednesday evening, December 8, and with the orchestra and soloists on Friday evening, December 10. A final full rehearsal of all the forces is to be held at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday, December 11. Conductor of Sydney Philharmonic.

A recent visitor to Auckland was Mr. Howard Carr, the conductor of the Sydney Philharmonic Society and also music editor for the Australian Broadcasting Commission. This was Mr. Carr's first visit here since he came in 1910 as conductor to the "Merry Widow" company. Discussing choral matters, the Sydney conductor remarked that his society had the same trouble that societies in other parts of the world were experiencing—a shortage of tenors. Xext year the Sydney Philharmonic Society intends giving a dramatised presentation of Mendelssohn's "Elijah." Mr. Carr was most enthusiastic about the idea of "musical reciprocity," and said that the forthcoming joint performance of "Messiah" by the Auckland and Wellington choral societies was decidedly a step in the right direction; also that conductors should be exchanged more frequently. Conservscoriums of Music. In a letter to a friend in Auckland, Dr. S. Kenneth Phillips, who has been taking the opportunity whilst on a holiday abroad to investigate musical conditions in the various countries he has visited, has something to say about several of the conservatoriums of music he has inspected on his trip. That at Leipzig, he writes, is contained in a very fine building. Those at Dresden and Copenhagen are more modest in dimensions. All, especially Leipzig and Helsingfors, have good halls, holding some (iOO-800 people. The attendances at these conservatoriums vary in ratio to population. Copenhagen, with a population of 000,000 has 200 students; Leipzig (750,000) has 300; Berlin (4,.500,000) has 700—there are also other 'high schools" for music too. Dr. Philips remarks that if these figures can taken as a guide, there docs not eem great reason for anticipating a arge attendance of students at a conervatorium of music in New Zealand, vhere there is but a scattered one and wo-thirds million of people to draw rom.

End of 1937 Season Near. The 1937 musical season is fast drawing to a close. On December 2 the Royal Auckland Choir presents its third, and final, concert in the Town Hall Concert Chamber. In the same hall, on the 9th, Colin Horsley, the young Wanganui pianist, will be heard in a piano recital, in which he will be assisted by Miss Leera Hloy, violinist, and Mr. Robert Parry, baritone. The festival performance of the "Messiah," to be given by the Auckland Choral Society, in conjunction with the Royal Wellington Choral Union, takes place in the Town Hall on the 11th. On the 13th, a pianoforte recital will be given by the students of Miss Theo. Hatpin in the Lewis Eady Hall with the assistance of Mr. Robert Simmers, baritone, and Mr. James Leighton, a Scottish bass, who will make his first public appearance in Auckland at this concert. Handel's "Messiah" will also be given by the choir of the Pitt Street Methodist Church under the baton of Mr. Albert Harvey. This will take place on December 10 (instead of the 9th, as originally intended) with the following soloists:—Miss Winifred Hill (soprano), Miss Beryl Smith (contralto), Mr. Leslie Russell (tenor), and Mr. Stewart larvey (bass). The organ accompaniments will be played by Mr. Trevor Sparling.