THE SHEFFIELD CHOIR

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 168, 3 July 1911, Page 3

THE SHEFFIELD CHOIR

IMMENSE AUDIENCES AT AVELLINGTON. [per press association.] AVellington July 2. After the matinee the Choir were guests of the Governor and Lady Islington at Government House. In the evening there was an immense crowd at the Town Hall to hear the oratorio "Elijah.” Indeed, hundreds were turned away. The Sheffield Choir was reinforced ' by some 250 local singers. The majestic oratorio was, of course, sung as it had never been sung here before. The Town Hall was filled in the afternoon, when the Choir gave i; Coronation Empire concert. Dr. Harris and Dr. Coward conducting alternately. The audience was enthusiastic. and many items were encored. The singing of “The Bell's of St. Alichael’s” was a perfect revelation of what is possible in chair music, arousing the audience to a high pitch of enthusiasm. Lord and Lady Islington and party attended both afternoon and evening.

The takings during the season, consisting of three evening performances and one matinee, amounted to about £‘3200. ARRIVAL OF THE CHOIR IN CHRISTCHURCH. A QUESTION OF PROFITS. ! DR. HARRISS INTERVIEWED. I Christchurch, July 2. The members of the Sheffield Choir arrived to-day from Wellington and were met by a fairly large crowd at Lyttelton, and by a very large crowd on the Christchurch ; railway station.. The public recep- ■ tion fakes place to-morrow afternoon. This afternoon, with the local choir, the Sheffield Choir had a rehearsal of “Elijah,” In an interview, Dr. Harris dealt frankly with financial matters, and with the statement that the Choir was being overworked. As to the financial aspect'of affairs, Dr. Harriss stated that the realisation of his scheme of ten years ago to make the British Empire better known to the people of the British Isles and to advertise the British dominions oversea in a manner that no Government could afford had cost him £‘15.000 of his own maney, and not a penny of anyone else’s. All he required was that the people of the oversea dominions should pay the way of the Choir . Lord Strathcona. who was greatly interested in the scheme, offered Dr. Harriss a cheque for £lO,OOO, which he gratefully declined. He calculated that the expenses of the present tour of the Choir will cost £50.000, and that amount dot's not include sums spent in the initial stages of the movement. In respect to the (‘Loir’s visit to South Africa, he expected a deficit of £3OOO owing to the smallness of the halls. Even in Canada, where the halls accommodate from six to eight thousand, the previous twelve 'days’ visit of the Choir resulted iu a loss of something like £BOO. As to the billeting of members of the Choir, he stated that it was voluntarily offers ed. To have asked for it to be done would have been far too delicate, a matter for him to suggest. As to the Choir being overworked, he explained that the recent matinee at Palmerston was not included in the original plan, and involved the Choir travelling there on Friday. The brief periods .spent by theChoir in different places was due to the fact that the members of the Choir were unable to devote a greater period than six months and two weeks to the tour, and he was attempting to do the best possible in the circumstances. Dr. Harris who, with the Sheffield Choir, was on the sea on Coronation Day, despatched on his arrival in Auckland a telegram to the King congratulating His Majesty and the Queen on behalf of the 10,000 choiristers and instrumentalists in Australasia associated with the Choir in his festivals of the Empire on their Coronation. Dr. Harris has received the following reply:— “Buckingham Palace, June 29th,! 1911. —I am commanded by the King to thank you, and all who joined with you. for the loyal sentiment to which your telegram gave expression. (Sir Arthur) Bigge.”