COMING—GILBERT AND SULLIVAN

Evening Star, Issue 23753, 7 December 1940, Page 5

COMING—GILBERT AND SULLIVAN

New Zealanders, like all Englishspeaking people, cherish a strong regard for the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, and they will doubtless be delighted to know that the J. C. Williamson management is sending to the Dominion, beginning in Auckland on December 30, their latest London Savoy Company, which includes, in addition to a number of English artists who have never previously appeared here, Mr Ivan Menzies, the popular comedian, Evelyn Gardiner, the talented contralto, Gregory Stroud, baritone, Bernard Manning, and Richard Watson, character comedians. The new artists include Miss Viola Wilson, who, until she joined the D’Oyly Carte Company to interpret the leading soprano roles in the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, was a member of the Carl Rosa Grand Opera Company; John Fullard, golden-voiced tenor from London, whose singing of ‘ Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes ’ created a furore in Sydney; Sara Gregory, a charming young soprano; Vincent M'Murray, a clever Gilbert and Sullivan comedian; Phyllis Curnow, a dainty young contralto; and Maxwell Oldaker, a young tenor singer. A feature of the Australian production was, it is said, the outstanding work of the chorus, which is said to he up to grand opera standard. A full operatic orchestra will be under the direction of Leo Packer, who last visited Now Zealand with the ‘ Switzerland Ice Ballet ’ company.