'WILLIAM TELL"

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 146, 17 December 1913, Page 10

'WILLIAM TELL"

TO TUB EDITOR. Sir,—ln commenting on your report of the " William Tell " concert, at the same time replying to Herr Carl Sauer'a letter of the 11th inst., may I say how glad I am that your critio showed no hesitation in speaking out. In bo doing more good than harm wil] be done for the Musical Union and for music generally in Wellington. Your oritic states that in attempting -"William Tell" tho union undertook a work far beyond its capacity, considered from_ any_ point of view. I will admit the disabilities under which the choir and conductor wore obliged to work. I refer to tho manuscript copies. But, Sir, there was ample time for those responsible to^ see that everything was dono to make it easy for tho choir to know _ where outs occurred, etc. In some copies cuts were marked •«) in other*'not, and durinsr the cer-

formanoe I heard members of the choir asking one another, " Where do we oome in ?" The hesitancy spoken qf in your report was, in a great measure, due to this, and in a greater measure to the fact that the conductor's attention (except in a few instances) was glued to the score, and had it not been for the fact that a gdod portion of the choir could count, The Post would have contained^ a report of a fiasco, instead of a mild onticism. If Herr Carl Saver is contented with the performance it must be for the samo reason that the majority of the members of the choir are, namely, that a much worse performance was anticipated. As to the remark of Herr C. Savor's, that your critio seemed to be inclined to compare a body of young amateurs (mark the word '" young"; I knpw he means young in experience, but •yon so, ho is far Bhort of the mark), with professional opera singers, surely he knows that an amateur chorus ie often equal, and will even excel a body ai professionals for attack and freshness of ' tone. Before concluding, may I add ono or two words of _ praise for tho hon. secretarvj Mr. Lewis, who has worked like a Trojan for the union during the trying time. He deserves every_ praise, nnd I hope, for his sake, the time is not far distant when your criticisms will be pleasant, reading. I can. quite believe that your critio waß competent' to judge, and at the same time fearless, and hope whoever he may_ be, he will never hesitate in honest criticism, such as yours iB, of this particular performance.—l am, etc., A MEMBER. 14th December, 1913.