BRAHMS FESTIVAL

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 135, 10 June 1933, Page 8

BRAHMS FESTIVAL

PRELIMINARY PARTIES

Various functions have been arranged by the ladies' committee of the Brahms Centenary Festival to stimulate the interest of music-lovers in tho festival celebrations which will commence shortly. Last evening the second of these parties was held at tho Pioneer Club, where the rooms were comfortably arranged and heated, and were decorated with winter hydrangeas, large bowls of feathery toi-toi, and Iceland poppies.

A novel way of "mingling" tho guests was accomplished by giving each on arrival one piece of a jig-saw puzzle, which the competitor had to fit into its correct placo in a portrait of Johannes Brahms. A delightful musical programme was given, after which the guests adjourned to.the repertory rooms to watch a one-act play.

Mr. John Bishop explained that the festival committee,, were concerned mainly with paying 'the>!higliest tribute in their, power to the memory of the great genius, Brahms, 'iyn the occasion of his centenary,;and the finest of his works woiild be played;; at the various concerts, by the test of Wellington's musicians. He: piked those who wished to know more''Of;the -groat composer to taker advantage •• of, this wonderful opportunity/ •'■when=jover thirty soloists, an orchestra", of .'sixty, and a chorus of three hundred would take part in the programmes..., ;He added some anecdotes illustrating .the personal charac-. teristics of' Johannes Brahms.

Thoso who took pait in last evening's piogiamme wcie Mrs. Vickery (piano solos), Mrs. Townley, Mrs. M. Goodson, Miss Dons Black, and Miss Ella Fair (songs), and Mis& Piuo Lewis and Misses So'Uey (instiumeutal trio). The accompaniments foi the songs were plTved by Mis I^on Wilson. A song slietch m costume, "The Lowther Aicade," was'pre&onted by Mrs. J. B. Pen j. Miss D. Isaacs, and Miss Fair. "Tho ;GVC!(i;,^sijn's Diamond," by Alan Mpiikhou'se,; was produced by Mr. Victor Lloyd,;-those..taking part being Vera . Hdvton,:, JSJgaire Coster, Douglas Stark, P ( ercy':/Kee'sing, and Ulrie Williams;, t ■• • . ■ ' :■•. ■

The ladies' committee comprises Mrs. M.:Go'odsoh."(chairwoman), Mrs. Knox Gilmeiv'-Mrs^Av-liOngmore,- .Miss .Eva Crump:, (hon., secreta,rv,), Mrs. Drayton, MrsV'.Vickcry, Miss- 'Ethne Gi-eig; Mrs. John Bishop,- Mist "Fair; Miss Jacob-, son, Mrs.>'Mitchell;;Mrs.; Lundius, Mrs. Hazelwood, Miss Monica Malfroy, Miss Doris Black", Mrs. V. E. Gunn, Mrs. Fearn, Mrs. Macdonald Wilson, Mrs. I. Levy, and Mrs. Clarke.