AT THE “PROMS"

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12022, 27 December 1924, Page 11

AT THE “PROMS"

ROYALTY’S FIRST VIBIT THREE BRITISH CONDUCTORS. The King and Queen paid a first visit recently to London's most popular and democratic musical institution the Queen's Hall "Proms/' Arriving at tlie hall just before 8 o'clock, Their Majesties were received by Lord Shaftesbury and Mr Robert Newman, manager of the concerts. Before entering the-hall. Sir Henry Wood's little daughter,, Miss Tania Wood, offered the Queen a bouquet of carnations, and Lady Wood was presented to Their Majesties. Entering the auditorium as the orchestra played the National Anthem, the Royal visitors were given a great ovation at the close of the anthem. The 6ight. of the audience evidently greatly interested Their Majesties, the Queen smiling delightedly as she caught sight of the crowd standing below on the floor of the house. A little time after the music began the King and his suite "lit up," and immediately pipes and cigarettes made their appearance in the "promenade." Then the audience settled down to a typical "Prom-" programme, which was keenly followed and obviously enjoyed in the Royal enclosure as much as on the floor of the hall. It was fitting that the master of the King's Music, Sir Edward Elgar, should hare been invited to open the concert, and equally fitting that the work of his choosing should be the brilliant "Cockaigne," that very genial picture of London town, full of charming tunes and gay orchestral effects. It was splendidly played under the composer's direction. Then Sir Henry Wood took hie accustomed place on the stand and gave a delightful performance of the familiar music by Wormser from "L'Enfant Prodigue." Yet a third conductor appeared during the evening, Mr Prank Bridge, who conducted two movements of his clever, imaginative "Sea" suite. His Majesty, it was noted, was especially interested in comparing the methods of the three conductors.

The soloists of the evening were Miss Leila Megan© (in two Bantock songs), Mr E/ric Marshall ("O Star of Eve"), and Miss Jelly d'Aranyi, who played the second and third movements of the Beethoven Violin Concerto.