BRAHMS FESTIVAL

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 219, 12 June 1933, Page 5

BRAHMS FESTIVAL

Introductory Entertainment The campaign inaugurated by Mr. John Bishop and an able committee of musical enthusiasts, with the object of rousing wider interest in famous musicians through a greater knowledge of their works, is being given very promising support through entertainments introductory to the forthcoming Brahms festival. This movement aims at overcoming to some degree the difficulties experienced by educationists so far from the great art centres, and deserves all possible encouragement. On Friday night the Pioneer Club was the scene of another delightful party of the series now being given in connection with the Brahms centenary. The rooms were warm and comfortable; Iceland poppies and hydrangeas added splashes of colour under softened lights, and a pleasant atmosphere of informality prevailed. An original plan of introduction, in which pieces of jig-saw puzzles cut from pictures of the great master himself, separate small tables, and music from a trio of instrumentalists, all played their part, created a happy opening. The musical programme took place in the club rooms, and at the conclusion the guests crowded into the Repertory Society's room, where “The Grand Cham’s Diamond,” that short and evergreen comedy, provoked the usual mirth and appreciation. After that a most excellent supper was served in the club rooms, during which Mr. John Bishop took the opportunity of explaining the objects of the festival, and describing in a few words the position of Brahms among the world’s great masters. Mr. Bishop said that perhaps his very greatness rendered Brahms forbidding, unintelligible, on first hearing, and that very quality led to the absence of his name on many concert programmes. But they were not considering him so much from the boxoflice point of view, as from that of paying the finest tribute possible to the memory of a great genius. At the same time, the giving of any concert included the question of money, and all present were urged to do their utmost to make the coming festival a success, so that everyone might take advantage of the opportunity to come more closely in touch with the exquisite music of Brahms. The season tickets had been made as cheap as possible in order that the concerts might be within the reach of all. The finest musicians in the city, said Mr. Bishop, in conclusion, had been engaged to take part; there would be 30 soloists, an orchestra of 60, and a chorus of 300. When it was considered that only by strenuous and incessant work had these concerts been made possible, the support of the public might fairly be asked for.

The names of the committee responsible for the success of the party were Mesdames M. E. Goodson (chairwoman), Knox Gilmer, Drayton, J. Bishop, Vickery, A. Longmore, I. Levy, A. S. Mitchell. Macdonald Welson, Hazelwood, Lundius, Clarke, Fearn, V. R.. Gunn, the Misses E. Crump, Jacobson, E. Fair, Monica. Malfroy, Doris Black, and Ethno Greig.. The following contributed the programme:—Mrs. Vickery (piano solo), Mrs. Black (group of modern songs), Mrs. J. P. Townley and Miss Ella Fair (duets), Mrs. M. E. Goodson (group of Brahms songs), Mrs. J. Perrv and Miss D. Isaacs (sketch, with song’by Miss Ella Fair), Misses Sealy and Prue Lewis (instrumental trios). The parts in “The Grand Cham’s Diamond” were played by Vera Horton, Ngaire Coster, Douglas Stark, Percy Keesing, and Ulric Williams.