WESTMINSTER GLEE SINGERS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19757, 23 October 1929, Page 7

WESTMINSTER GLEE SINGERS.

POPULAR APPEAL. The popular appeal of the Westminster Glee Singers has been remarked upon and highly commended by musical critics all over the British Empire and during the singers' recent eighteen months' tour of Canada the critics lavished on them unstinted praise not only tor their magnificent singing but for the choice, selection, and diversity oi the programmes. W'nen the company appears liero at the Civic Theatre on 'i'ueaaay, Wednesday, and Thursday of next week, tiiese features wiii be noted, for the special programmes arranged lor tne New Zealand tour indicate a most careful selection, which gives the utmost scope to certainly one of the most versatile and well trained organisations that have ever left Britain. During the New Zealand tour complete changes of programme will be presented nightly. The Westminster Glee Singers are drawn from the English Cathedral choirs, the most famous London churches, Royal College of Music,- and the field of opera; the personnel consists of Masters Douglas Bartnp, Vincent i'etley, Harry Fearn, Gorman Clarke, Alan Goodered, Sidney Walls, boy sopranos from London choirs, together with Donald Be id, alto from Westminster Abbey; William Lowry, alto from Christehureh Cathedral, England, Ernest McKinlay the New Zealand tenor who joined the company in Canada, Charles O'Connor, Irish tenor and harpist; Edward Branscombe, for ten years tenor soloist at Westminster Abbey; James Barker, the eminent Scottish basso; Charles Draper, Operatic Exhibitioner Royal College of Music, London; Albert J. Greene, from principal London concerts. Since the last visit of the 'Westminster Glee Singers to New Zealand some five years ago, they have toured every part of the British Empire, the uniqueness of their performances beinsj attested on all Bides. The secret of their success lies in the popular natures of their programmes, allied to the great beauty of their ensemble, plus the novel manner in which their entertainment is presented. The New Zealand tour is under the direction of Henry Hayward by ararngement with Edward Branscombe. organiser and proprietor of the company. The box plan will open at The Bristol to-morrow.