SINGER WALKS OFF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20954, 18 August 1931, Page 9

SINGER WALKS OFF.

SYDNEY ORATORIO INCIDENT.

CONDUCTOR REPLACES SOLOIST.

The performance of "Judas Maccabaeus" by the Welsh Choral Society, at the Sydney Town Hall recently, was marked by an extraordinary"incident, one of the principals, Mr. A. E. Y. Benham, bass soloist, walking off the platform, after a declaration that the conductor, Mr. Mansfield, had declined to allow him to sing.' Mr. Mansfield sang the bass solos himself. Before tho performance began Mr. Mansfield announced his intention of singing the solos. Mr. Benham was at the time not on the platform, but walked on immediately afterwards. When the time came for tho second bass solo, both the conductor and Mr. Benham stepped forward simultaneously. The conductor waved Mr. Benham aside, and informed the audience that all the artists, except Mr. Benham, who had demanded a fee of £5 ss, were giving their services free, as the performance was in aid of the Sydney City Mission relief fund. Stepping forward, Mr. Benham said arrangements had been made for the broadcasting of his voice, without his permission. "At all events," he added, "Mr. Mansfield declines to allow me to sing." He then resumed his seat.

No bass solo was sung at this stage, but at a signal from the conductor, the choir resumed the chorus work. After having remained seated for a few moments Mr. Benham left the platform. At the conclusion of the choral work in the first part Mr. Mansfield announced that the secretary of the choir, Miss Jones, had instructed him to sing, "Arm! Arm! Ye Brave," and this he accordingly sang. In an interview Mr Mansfield said: "All the soloists, including Mr Benham, were informed of the conditions a couple of weeks before the performance was an nouneed, namely, that it was for the re lief fund, and that there would be no fees whatever for anybody. Mr. Benham demanded of me £5 ss, me personally responsible for it. This meant that I had to refuse and had to sing the bass solos myself."