EMPIRE MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13906, 3 December 1910, Page 3

EMPIRE MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

♦ THE SOLOISTS. I>r. Harriss, writing from London, gives the following information as to the soloists in connection with the Empire Musical Festival here in June next, in which the Sheffield Choir, under the celebrated conductor, Dr. Coward, will take part:— Dr. Harriss says :—"I have chosen seven of the soloists, who will accompany mc, viz., Miss Jennie laggai't, the Scottish saprano, whose work at the Royal Opera Covcnt Garden, Sheffield, .Norwich Mid Bristol Festivals, Queen's Hall and Albert Hall concert-?, is s-n well known. "> suppo.e she is one of the most successful and satlsiaetory all-ioui:<j soprani to be found iv England, and u> tho thousands of scots all over the Empire, I thought it would make a popular as wcil as a very wise choice. -Miss Gertrude dale, the London contralto, was in New Zealand, with Mr "Watkin Mills. She accompanied tiie Sheffield Choir to Canada two years ;igo, and proved surli ;) favourite that I engaged her for the World Tour of Festivals. Miss Alice Heeley is the other contralto; also a very gifted vocalist, with a well tried reputation throughout England. My tenors are: Mr Henry 'i iirnnenney, of tho Queen's liall Symphony and Promenade Concerts, Allicrt Hall, St. James' Hall, Crystal I'alace, and Alexandra Palaces, and principal London Concerts, and Mr Wilfrid Virgo. The latter sang with mo on the Mac-kenzie-Canadian Festival Tour, in 1903. Since then he has sung in association with most of the great ones, and on Patti's Farewell Tour, in America, amongst other history musicmaking; events. Formerly Virgo was a pupil of i'anzani, of Milan. He is an operatic tenor, and will take tho role in my Symphony Choral Idyl, "Pan," amongst oUkt works. Mr Robert CJiarlesivorth and Mr Robert Chignell are my two bass soloists. The former was the bass soloist on the Sheffield Choir's visit io Canada' two years ago, and first won fame at the. Sheffield Triennial Musical Festival. His voico is very delightful, and I know he will more than uelight everyone who hoars him. Mr Robert Chi'g■nell is a bass baritone, and has done highly successful work at Covent Garden, in grand opera, and with such festival choruses as at Worcester, .Bristol, and Cardiff, Crystal Palace promenades, Queen's Hall concerts, and throughout the English provinces. These artists are all essentially in tlHr primo, and I do not think a double quartet of soloists, such ; ,s these could be duplicated in England. At any rate, I have engaged what satisfies my fastidious tastes, and in haviiv* done so, have borne the public well in mind, for after all they aro to !>e considered first.