MUSIC WEEK

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 229, 22 June 1940, Page 7

MUSIC WEEK

Festival Begins Tonight Tonight, the first concert of music week in Welliugtou will be presented in the 'Town Hall by the National Centennial Festival Orchestra, conducted by Mr. Andersen Tyrer. The assisting artists will be those celebrated overseas soloists. Isobel Baillie and Heddle Nash. Booking has been heavy for this first concert, which proves that Wellington is going to make the most of its coining week of musical entertainment. The centennial committee has started the ball rolling with an exceptionally tine programme, which includes Mendelssohn’s “Buy Blas” overture, Weber’s “Oberon” overture, the Second Hungarian Rhapsody, the Elgar's famous “Enigma Variations.” Tlie National Centennial Festival Orchestra, which is the finest orchestra to visit Wellington, will also accompany the visiting soloists. “Micaela’s Song,” which will be sung by Isobel Baillie (soprano), is taken from the third act of “Carmen.” In this number Miss Baillie will show her Wellington audience that she is a singer of outstanding voice and magnificent artistry. Making a happy break between orchestral numbers in the second half of the programme comes Heddle Nash singing Handel’s “Wher'er You Walk” (from “Semele”), and the famous Latin hymn. “Cuius Auimaui” (Rossini). “Shepherd's Hey” and “Molly ou the Shore,” by Percy Grainger, will be the next two items by the orchestra. The duet and scena from act I of Puccini’s “La Boheme,” which will be sung by Isobel Baillie and Heddle Nash, will be welcomed by all who know this delightful duet. The eighth number on the programme is Franz .Liszt's famous “Second Hungarian Rhapsody.” which was written originally for the pianoforte, but was later scored for orchestra. This splendid work needs no introduction to Wellington audiences. The Royal Wellington Choral Union, under the conductorship of Mr. Stanley Oliver, the composer, will conclude the programme with the singing of “A Delightsome Land.” This choral work, which has its first public performance during the first programme of Wellington’s Centennial Musical Festival, was written and published iu 1938. The vocal score of the work carries the following dedication: “To the Royal Welliugtou Choral Union, on the eve of the one hundredth birthday of that ’delightsome land,’ New Zealand.” Tomorrow, beginning at 8.30 p.m.. a thanksgiving song service will be held in the Town Hall. Assisting at this event will be the National Centennial Festival Orchestra, again conducted by Mr. Tyrer. Choral items, including “How Lovely are the Messengers,” from Mendelssohn's “St. Paul,” and the Hallelujah Chorus from “The Messiah.” will be sung by massed church choirs. Gladys Ripley, the famous English contralto, will sing Liddle’s “Abide With Me,” made popular in earlier years by Clara Butt. Oscur Natzke, the New Zealand basso, who has done so much to enhance the Dominion's musical lustre overseas, will sing “Hear Ale Ye Winds and Waves,” from Handel’s opera, “Scipio,” and “Honour and Arms,” from "Samson.” In this programme the audience will be asked to join iu three hymns, accompaniment by the orchestra and organ. The purely orchestral items set down are “The Magic Flute” overture (Mozart), and Eric Coates's “Knightsbridge March.” No charge will be made for admission to this service.