MUSICAL RECIPROCITY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7110, 23 April 1910, Page 15

MUSICAL RECIPROCITY

THE FESTIVAL OF EMPIRE. LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS NOW BEING MADE. Though it is yet some considerable ■way off iu the future, matters in ronnection with the “Festival of Empire are moving steadily in Wellington, and arrangements are being made to ensure tho success at tho local portion of the great musical celebration,. fThe festival is tho idea of Dr Charles Harriss, who recently visited Wellington, and fired local musicians and music lovers with some of his own enthusiasm for it. A meeting of the committee set up to forward the project was held last evening in the Dresden rooms, Mr J. 6. W. Aitken presiding over an attendance of about twenty. Apologies for -unavoidable absence were received from Archbishop Redwood, Dr J. Gibb and tbje Rev. A. W. H. Compton. On behalf of the musical committee, Mr Robert Parker reported that a programme for the Wellington festival had been drawn up after caneful consultation with Dr Harriss. The dotes were .Tune 291 h and llflth find July Ist. The work proposed for tho concert on June 29th was “The Dream of Gerontius.” For .Tunie 30th tho following miscellaneous programme was suggested ; —“Pan” (Dr Harriss), “Sing Yo" (Bach), “Epilogue from Golden Legend” (Sullivan) and “Blest Pair of Syrens” (Parry): the latter . work to bo conducted by Mr Robert Parker and tho “Epilogue” by Mr .Manghan Barnett. On July Ist there would be two concerts, an Empire programme for the afternoon (to be fixed later) and in the evening a performance ,of “Elijah” in conjunction with the Wellington auxiliary choir. The committee also proposed that the following should be asked to act as on;anists during the festival; —“Gerontius," Mr Barnett: “Blest Pair,” Mr Watkins; “Elijah,” Mr Parker; “Empire Concert,” Mr Hunt. The report was adopted on tho motion of Messrs Parker and Barnett. VARIOUS ARRANGEMENTS. A committee consisting of Messrs Aitken, Pope and Gorham was set up to interview the Mayor and City Council relative' to the engagement of the Town Hall for the festival, that being the only place considered at all suitable for the purpose. Mr Hugo’Gorlitz drew attention to the desirability from many points of view of offering hospitality to the members of the Sheffield choir during their coming visit to Wellington, saying that no doubt many people, especially Yorkshiremen, would be very gtad. of an opportunity of becoming acquainted with them. (Hear, hear). On his suggestion it was decided to set up a housing committee, the members to be named later. It, was stated by Mr Parker that tho musical committee had decided that the tests for thio auxiliary ohoir which will assist in. tho production of “Elijah" should start at tho beginning of October, so that work could be begun immediately after Christmas. CHARGES FOR ADMISSION. ' Discussing the proposed charges for admission- to the concerts, Mr R. A. Wright, M.P., expressed the fear that a majority of the people would find 103 and 5s too much to pay. He suggested that an extra concert should bo arranged for at popular prices, which ho was sure would attract a very largo number. The chairman remarked that Dr Harriss had fixed tho charges for the festival himself. Mr Gorlitz said that surprise had been felt by some members of the committee at tho charge being fixed so low, it having been expected that Dr Harriss would put it at a guinea. For the matinee only 2s 6d was to be charged, but no reduction could be made in the evenings. Dr Harriss was willing to lose, say, =£lo,ooo over thle festival, but ho would not go much further. The season ticket for the throe evening concerts would bo £1 la, which he, Mr _ Gorlitz, did not consider at all excessive. Nothing further was done in the matter.