THE SHEFFIELD CHOIR.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 800, 25 April 1910, Page 11

THE SHEFFIELD CHOIR.

PROGRAMME ARRANGED. A meeting of the Citizens'. Committee,. which was set up in December last to make arrangements for the visit of the great Sheffield Choir next year, was held at the Dresden rooms on Friday evening. Mr. _J.' G. W. Aitkeil presided. ; The committee was formed at the time of -Dr. Harriss's visit, the Governor being appointed president, "and the presidents and vice-presidents of the Choral Society, Musical Union, and Liedertafel being vice-presidents. The committees of these three societies constitute the general committee. Mr. R. Parker reported that the Musical Committee had agreed upon the following programme for the visit next ycaT:— ' !: , June 29, 1511. —"Dream of Geronitius." •. :• 1 June 30.—"fen," by Dr. Harriss; "Sing Ye,'*/-by Bach"Epilogue: from Golden Legend;" and' "Blest Pair of Syrens." by Parry. "Blest Pair of Syrens is to be conducted by Mr. Barnott and the, "Epilogue" by • Mr. Parker. • • , July I.—Matinee: .;Empire Concert. Evening: "Elijah," in conjunction with the Wellington Auxiliary Choir.

•The organists are to be as follow: "Gerontiusu" Mr. Barnett; "Blest Pair," Mr. ■ Watkins; "Elijah," Mr. Parker; Empire Concert, Mr. Hunt. .'Messrs: J. G.' W. Aitken, Pope, and Gorham were appointed a. Hall Committee to arrange for the Town Hall for the four concerts.

Mr. H. Gorlitz' stated that Dr. Harriss had arranged to give a great Empire Concert at the 'Albert Hall, London, on Empire Day, as the send-off for' the choir. There wbuld on that occasion : be a choir of 5000, an orchestra of 500, and a military band of 250! Tlie proceeds of the concert would be spent ■ in' expanding musical ideas throughout the Empire. They wanted everyone to become acquainted with the members of the choir, and ho proposed that in■, Wellington thoy should follow the custom in Europe when great festivals were held, and billet the members of the choir among' private citizens, instead of allowing them to stay at hotels, where they would meet no one. The committee resolved that I a Housing Committee be appointed later on in tlie year to attend to the matter.

; Mr. Parker stated tliat the tests for the auxiliary choir would begin in October, and it was hoped to get to work immediately after Christmas:

' Mr. B. A ( ! Wi'ight,; M.P., asked whether it would not-be possible for the. choir to give an extra concert at popular prices. The great bulk "of tho people of Wellington could, not afford to pay ss. and'XOs.. and would hav'o to stay away. . ' . ' Mr. J. A. Joynt said 'single distinguished' artists had billed tlie. Opera House and Town Hall for several nights running at a guinea and half a guinea. 1 Mr. Gorlitz explained that at tbe Empire matinee children would be admitted. for half-a-crown. 'Season tickets for the three concerts would only cost a guinea. Dr. ftarriss was prepared to lose £10,000 or £15,000 over the tour, but to ask him to reduce prices would make things impossible. ,An extra concert could not bo arranged, as tho choir would leave on • July 1 at 11.15 p.m. for Lyttelton. It was tlio biggest thing ever before tho world for ten shillings., i