"FLORADORA."

Marlborough Express, Volume LIII, Issue LIII, 25 October 1919, Page 3

"FLORADORA."

[to the editor.]

Qi r> —l have been informed by an official of the Blenheim Operatic Society that the committee has selected "Floradora" for the Society's next production. Being honorary member and blessed with a fairly good musical education, I feel somewhat interested in the Society, and desire to express my disgust •■ at the choice the committee has made. "Floradora" is nothing better than musical comedy, extravaganza or vaudeville, and is certainly not an opera. What the committee is thinking' of in selecting such, piffle is beyond the understanding of anyone musically .inclined. In this work there is not a chorus worthy the name, there is not a concerted item worth while, and-there are.bufb three solos- worth mentioning, while the rest is; made up of rubbishy comedy, and I consider it unjust to tlie fine body of vocalists in tho Society to ask them to waste their time rehearsing such trash.' I cannot conceive, that the Society's musical director vould lecommend siich a comedy as "Floradora," but possibly he was not invited to express his opinion on the subject. ■.„■■ ■I have pleasant and lasting recollections of gems such as the "Miserere," with chorus, excerpts from "Lucia" and.the "Angelus Chorus" being sung at local conceits; the voices were selected and trained to sing these items by the Society's musical director, and the rendition of each item was a positive musical treat. . It is music of the standard that is going to educate patrons in what is best, and this should be the aim of the Society. "When I became an honorary member I fully expected to get opera for my guinea, and not comedy or vaudeville. It is quite apparent that an element is creeping into the "official" ranks of the Society whose aim is to produce this class of music, obviously, because some have not . the goods—vocal etiuipment—for anything better, but the members of the Society have the trump cai'd in their hands, and should demand to have a voice in the selection of the opera. HON. MEMBER.