WESTMINSTER GLEE SINGERS

Evening Star, Issue 20321, 1 November 1929, Page 6

WESTMINSTER GLEE SINGERS

HOVEL AND BEAUTIFUL ENTERTAINMENT One important feature of the Westminster Glee Singers, who are to appeal' in Dunedin at the Burns Hall on Tuesday next for a brief season is the highly attractive manner in which their entertainment is presented. Instead of the formal concert platform, they employ beautiful stage settings, witn many novel lighting effects, this being the first time that a combination of colour and sound has been utilised in' this manner. There is a delightful intimacy about their performances to which concert-goers have not hitherto been accustomed, and, whilst _ their musical standard is of the very highest, they do not disdain the lighter side. There is nothing more fascinating in the whole range of music than the human voice, and when this is utilised without instrumental accompaniment, one gets the very perfection of musical beauty. The Westminster Glee Singers specialise in this most attractive form of art; they sing the whole of their programmes from memory; their repertoire consists of over 150 examples of part music, ranging from the simple part songs to the madrigal and glee, with occasional anthems and Christmas carols, in addition to a most interesting series of solos with an accompaniment of voices. Specially are they noted for the very perfection of ensemble, and their soloists, both boys and men, rank with the finest that Great Britain can produce. It took Mr Edward Branscombe, organiser and director of this Empire tour, many months in ‘ England to arrange for leave of absence for members of the company from the cathedrals and colleges of choristers, and it has been arranged that the New Zealand portion of the tour will be under the personal direction of Mr Henry Hayward. Ten concerts were given in Auckland and Wellington to crowded houses, and the season in Christchurch proved a similar success. The unanimous opinion of Press and public is that the Westminster Glee Singers is the finest musical organisation ever to visit the dominion. The box plans for the season are now open.