Plans For The Proms

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31276, 24 January 1967, Page 7

Plans For The Proms

For the Proms concerto in Christchurch next week there will be two conductors, a famous American pianist, eight of New Zealand’s leading singers and, at reduced strength, the N.Z.B.C. Symphony Orchestra. Stanford Robinson, a BR.G conductor and arranger who has had many years in popular concert work, will share the conducting with Juan Matteucci.

With more than 40 years* experience with the 8.8. C. Stanford Robinson has always enjoyed a reputation for presenting the unexpected. His interests—and frequently his concerts—range from oratorio to madrigal singing, to rhythm and blues. CHILD PRODIGY The guest pianist, Leonard Pennario, is making his first tour of New Zealand, but his name has been familiar to music-lovers and musicians

in this edhtry for some time. A cfd prodigy who made the 1 e as a mature artist, Pern can claim wide crital and popular success. I The New Zealand soloists for the c®erts have all had previous Froms experience and wide Erratic and theatrical train®. The jclt soloists at Monday’s coiert, conducted by Juan MBeucci, will be Vincente Nper and Grant Dickson, siwig a bracket of arias. Vincew Major has sung with the NV Zealand Opera Companyjnd in television and ideasts. Grant Dickson.Jhother Opera Company meJer, recently sang in “C#ina Burana” in ChristJ the other concert under ucci “an evening of old umna,” t,.e soloist will be

the pianist Janetta McStay, who has established herself as a teacher, recitalist and accompanist of the first order in the 12 years since her return to New Zealand from extensive study overseas. GILBERT AND SULLIVAN There will be three soloists at the Gilbert and Sullivan concert under Stanford Robin-son-Angela Shaw, Noel Signal and lan Morton. These artists have ail worked in Opera Company productions and have sung in several Proms series.

Heather Begg, who with Leonard Pennario, will be a soloist in Stanford Robinson’s second concert, needs little introduction to Christchurch audiences. A mezzo-soprano with the Sadler’s Wells Opera Company,. she will return to England shortly after the Proms series. The concerts, from Monday to Thursday next week, will be held in Canterbury Court. MUSICAL BACKGROUND Stanford Robinson came from a musical background and was educated at the Royal College of Music. He jpined the 8.8. C. in 1924 and later that year was made director of the London Wireless Singers (later the 8.8. C. Singers) and conducted his first concert at Savoy Hill. His long career has included such posts as director of music productions, opera director, conductor of 8.8. C. Opera and Theatre Symphony orchestras, 8.8. C. chorus master, conductor of the 8.8. C. Symphony Orchestra, conductor of the 8.8. C. Regional and Scottish orchestras and many others. Outside the 8.8. C. he has pursued several careers—pianist, com-

pere, lecturer, arranger, composer and guest conductor. He has conducted every major English orchestra throughout Europe, and has been responsible for the production of more than 100 opera performances. In 1960 the normal 8.8. C. retirement age of 60 was extended in his case and he shows no signs of either giving up his career or cutting it down.

He has produced for 8.8. C. television productions of “Rigoletto,” “Madame Butterfly,” “La Traviata” and other operas, as well as having been associated with Sadler’s Wells and Covent Garden productions. A composer of some note himself, he has no favourite composer and he says that he likes modern music vepr much.