THE STATE ORCHESTRA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17652, 13 December 1920, Page 6

THE STATE ORCHESTRA.

SECOND DOMINION TOUR. ARRIVAL IN JANUARY. The New South Wales State Orchestra j is to visit New Zealand again shortly. Mi. E. J. Gravestock, Sydney manager for Messrs. J. and N. Tait, who are managing the second New Zealand tour of the orchestra for the State Government, arrived in y-esterday to organise arrangements for the visit of Mr. Verbrugghen and his band of 80 performers. " The personnel of the orchestra/' said Mr. Gravestock, " is practically the same as on the occasion of the first visit, with the exception of three or four players who were on the professorial staff of the Conservatorium, whose duties, owing to the increased activity at the Conservatorium, prevent their travelling. Their places, however, have been filled with thoroughly capable players, including Harold and Haydn Beck, the young isew Zealand instrumentalists, and the Austra-

lian papers state' the orchestra is a far finer body than it was before—it lias developed in every way. The New South Wales Government, is bearing the financial responsibility of the orchestra this time. The itinerary of the tour -will include Gisbonie, Dannevirke, and Masterton. Owing to the difficulty in arranging suitable dates, Hamilton and New Plymouth will have to be omitted. The tour will commence in Auckland on January 3, and the season will last for six nights. The programmes have been carefully drawn up by Mr. Verbrugghen, and vocal and' instrumental gems from grand opera will figure largely in the scheme, .fa.ust. Carmen, II Trovatore, Lohengrin, Tannhauser, Bohemian Girl, and La Traviata will be drawn upon, and in order that the vocal numbers shall be worthily presented, Miss Elsy Treweek (soprano). Signor Balboni (tenoi-), and Mr. Carl Formes (baritone), have been engaged, also Miss Adelaide van Staveren. A number of orchestral materpieces not played on the orchestra's previous tour will be given, including Tschaikovsky's remarkably popular overture, " 1812," find the same composer's famous symphony, No. 4. Beethoven will be well representpd, and three new works by Mr. Alfred Hill will be played for the first time on this tour. * The Verbrugghen string quartet will give tjvo chamber music concerts during the Auckland season."