THEATRICAL NOTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21912, 22 September 1934, Page 10 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL NOTES

COMING PRODUCTIONS Town Hall October 4.—Auckland Choral Society, " Merrie England." October 25.—Bohemian Orchestra Concert. His Majtsty" To-day and until September 29. Mareo Operatic Society, " Tho Duchess of Dantzic." Old Grammar School This evening and to September 20. \V E. A. production, " Masses and Man." Scots Hall. September 25 and 2(5.— Charity production, " Hero Comes the Bride." THEATRE AND CONCERT HALL To-morrow afternoon's classical hour from IYA will include two major works of the greatest interest. At 2 o'clock the " Kyrie " and " Gloria " from Beethoven's noble " Missa Solennis," Op. 123, will bo given its first broadcast from the studio. The recordings are foreign, and the work is rendered by a noted Berlin choir, the Bruno Kittel Choir, and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Kittel himself. The soloists are Lotte Leonard, soprano; Eleanor Schloss-hauer-Raynolds, contralto; Anton-Maria Topitz, tenor; and' Wilhelm Guttnians, bass. At 3.45, Vincent D'lndy's beautiful symphonic poem, " Symphonic sur un' air montagnard Francais " will be given by the great French orchestra of the " Association des Concerts Lamoureux." The symphonic is almost a pianoforte concerto, and the solo piano part is taken by Jeanne-Marie Darre. D'lndy was a disciple of Cesar Franck, and his work is pervaded by his master's mysticism and use of unusual tonal harmonies. As the title indicates, the work is based on a simple folk-song.

Often the composers of tho bestknown songs are. unknown to tho very public that sings them. Comparatively few people would know that " Annie Laurie " was written by Lady Jane Scott, "In the Gloaming" by Lady Arthur Hill, " Douglas, Tender and True," by Lady Scott Gattie, " The Campbells Are Comin'," " The Land o' the Leal," " Tho Laird o' Cockpon," by Lady Nairne, and " Juanita " by Mrs. Elizabeth Morton. It is recalled that Po! Plancon, commanded to sing at a State concert at Buckingham Palace for Queen Victoria, was requested by the Prince of Wales to sing " The Lost Chord " in English. But Plancon was not equal to the pronunciation, so it was written out for him phonetically, thus: " Si-ted ouan dai at dhi or-gaune Ai ouaz oni-ri an dhil ah tiz Ahnd mai fin-gerz oann-der daid-li O-vaira dhi no-izi kiz." Advice received from Australia indicates that in addition to the visits of Philip Hargrave, the brilliant boy pianist, tho Grenadier Guards Band and the Russian Ballet, previously announced, other theatrical attractions to be provided for New Zealand audiences within tho next few months will be the spectacular light opera, " White Horse Inn;" Ivor Novello's drama, " Fresh Fields;" Anthony Armstrong's mystery drama, " Ten Minute Alibi;" Somerset Maugham's powerful play, " The Sacred Flame," and a return of Cyril Ritchard and Madge Elliott in " Gay Divorce."

The funds of tho Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society are to benefit from the proceeds of the throe-act comedy drama, " Here Comes the Bride," which is to bo given as Miss Donna Voorhees' farewell production in the Scots Hall on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Although fundamentally a comedy, tho piece includes a mystery, which remains unsolved until near the end. Miss Voorhees takes the part of the principal comedienne, and others in the cast are Mr. Albert Parkes, Miss Abbie Frances, Mr. Bromley Davenport, Mr. Eric Middleton, Miss Tui Hall, Miss Nola Caselli, Mr. A. L. Denniston and Miss Esther Holds worth.

The type of music to be given by the Band of His Majesty's Grenadier Guards during ita series of New Zealand concerts in December, it is stated, will be of a moderately light character. One of the favourite items and a recent addition to the band's repertoire will be "La Grande Paque Russe " (" High Easter Russian Festival ") overture, by the Russian composer, Riinsky-Korsa-kov. Other works to be given will be Liszt's " Second Hungarian Rhapsody," a selection from Bizet's " Carmen," Grieg's " Norwegian Dances," Sullivan's "Di Ballo " overture, Hoist's suite, " The Planets," and works by Chaminade, Quilter, Saint - Saens, Tsehaikowsky, and others. The band is to play for a week's season in Auckland.

When the boy pianist, Philip Hargrave, tours New Zealand next month, under Tait management, he will play programmes hitherto associated with pianists in the prime of life. This Australian lad is said to play faultlessly such works as Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata, Bach's " Prelude and Fuguo in D Major," Haydn's Sonatas in E Flat and C Sharp Minor, Beethoven's Rondo in G, Liszt's " Liebestraum," No. 3, the Paganini-Liszt Etude No. 2, and works by Schubert and Chopin. He is only 11 years of age, and his stage appearance is said to be very unassuming and attractive. His concerts in Australian centres have been phenomenally successful, and his appearance in Auckland should arouse great interest.