GRAND OPERA

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 98, 27 April 1935, Page 6

GRAND OPERA

A NEW ZEALAND SCHEME

SOCIETY TO BE FORMED

For the first time, New Zealand is to have' her own grand opera company, if an ambitious project now being put forward is successful. The first voice trials amongst would-be opera singers will take place in Wellington next week—on Monday and Thursday evenings—and from these it is hoped that the company will begin to build up a combination capable of handling grand opera in all its forms. For the present the project will be confined to Wellington and negotiations are already in train for the performing rights of a Maseagni opera to be staged during the winter. Later, When the society is properly under way, it is hoped to make it a Dominionwide organisation, drawing singers from all parts of New Zealand. It is proposed to name the company the New Zealand Grand Opera Society, and Sir Thomas Beecham, the famous conductor, has been written to asking if he will act as patron. Once the society is properly established, it is intended to produce two or three operas, a year. A number of New Zealand musicians and singers who have had experience in grand opera work have expressed willingness to co-operate. The producer of the first opera will be a man well known in local' singing circles, and •who has had much experience in Continental grand opera, while the conductor will be another well-qualified musician who has also acted with grand opera orchestras. As for the singers, there are msfny who, if they have not actually taken part in grand opera, have had training in aria singing. There is a large number of teachers throughout the Dominion who have had operatic training, and these and their pupils will doubtless form the basis of the new society. The main object of the society is to give singers an opportunity to develop their talents and also to provide the New Zealand public with high-class music, well staged and well produced. To begin with, the society aims at having a chorus of up to 50 voices. If any of these chosen singers prove themselves capable of taking principal roles they will be given the opportunity to do so. Their work will ,be gratuitous and they will receive no payment, for their singing. Voice trials are to take place in Messrs} Chas. Begg's salon on Monday evening at 7 o'clock and again on' May 2. ■■: ■.•■:■, .■. ■ . \ ;N ■ ■■■■■.