CONCERT BY R.C.M.S.

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29900, 14 August 1962, Page 10

CONCERT BY R.C.M.S.

Three Choral Works Three choral works will be presented by the choir of the Royal Christchurch Musical Society at its concert in the Civic Theatre on Saturday, August 18. Under the direction of Robert FieldDodgson, and with the John Ritchie String Orchestra, the choir will sing Dvorak’s Te Deum, J. S. Bach's Magnificat and Beethoven’s Mass in C. Dvorak's Te Deum, Op. 103. is the last and, some reckon, the most original of his choral works. It was written for a Columbus Day celebration during the composer's visit to America in 1892. and it is notable for its jubilant choruses and for anticipations of the pastoral episodes in the "New World" Symphony. The soloists in this work will be Janet Kenny (soprano) and Winston Sharp (baritone).

The Magnificat in D is one of Bach’s greatest and most popular choral works. It consists of five choruses interspersed with two soprano arias, an aria apiece for contralto, tenor and bass, and a contralto-tenor duet. The soloists will be Janet Kenny. Carlene Shapcott (contralto'. Anson Austin (tenor) and Winston Sharp. The same soloists will sing in Beethoven's Mass in C. which is less well known than the longer Missa Solemnis, but which the composer said "lies especially close to my heart.”

Neither Prince Nicholas Esterhazy nor Beethoven’s publisher seem to have been impressed with the work when it was written in 1807. but Beethoven’s affection for the Mass may be gauged from the fact that he refused to let the publisher have the Fifth and Sixth Symphonies unless he published the Mass as well. “I believe I have treated the text as it has seldom been treated,” Beethoven wrote.

“The musical satire of Sullivan (» infinitely rtronper, I think, than the creative impulse, but very very highly qualified and highly skilled, and I would be very surprised if Gilbert and Sullivan don’t weather better than ‘Die Fledermaus’ and just as well as ‘The Barber of Seville’ ”—S>r Tyrone Guthrie in the BBC. programme. "Critic At Large."