OVERSEAS CONCERT ATTRACTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22629, 22 July 1935, Page 11

OVERSEAS CONCERT ATTRACTIONS

GILBERT AND SULLIVAN SEASON Mr Claude Kingston, concert director for Messrs J. and N. Tait, was in Dunedin on Saturday to complete arrangements in connection with the visit ot Yehudi Menuhin. In conversation with an Otago Daily Times reporter, ne stated that during a recent visit to New Zealand Mr John Tait became convinced that there was a distinct improvement generally in financial affairs, and he considered that a resumption of the farms activities in this Country was justified. The present tour by Menuhin is the farst fruit of this conviction, and other tours are projected for the near future. Mr Kingston said that Yehudi Menuhin, now 19 years of age, is accompanied on his New Zealand visit by his lather and mother and two sisters. Miss Hepzibah Menuhin is the brilliant pianist who has usually accompanied her brother when he has .made those records which have made liis name famous in the musical world. Miss Yalta Menuhin is not an instrumentalist, but is a student of languages. ■ Menuhin's accompanist is M. Marcel Gazelle. "* The violinist had previously given 10 concerts in the Albert Hall, London, and was to give one on December 1, and already every seat had been sold. After his New Zealand tour he would return to Australia and appear at Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. He would next visit South Africa, where he was guaranteed £20,000 for 15 concerts. On Christmas Eve this year he would play at the largest auditorium in Milan, Italy. In 1936. continued Mr Kingston, Menuhin would go into retirement for the purpose of rest and study. He would appear on the concert platform again in 1937, his bookings taking him up to 1940. Speaking of forthcoming attractions, Mr Kingston stated that he will return to Australia shortly in order to take charge of the famous Viennese Boys' Choir, which is to commence a tour of Australia and New Zealand in Brisbane on August 25. This choir, which is directed by the Rev. Father Schmitt, was founded as far back as 1498. when it was attached to the royal chapel situated adjacent to the Imperial Palace in Vienna. For four centuries the choir was maintained as an adjunct to religious services, and a "training school for boys. When the Hapsburg regime collapsed at the end of the Great War the days of this choir seemed to be numbered, but it has happily survived on a cJifferent basis, thanks to a great extent to the help, artistic and monetary,- afforded by Father Schmitt. When all else failed it was decided to help the choir to become self-supporting-Vienna is perhaps the most impoverished of all the great European capitals—by sending it out on concert tours. England and the United States have already been visited. Now follow Australia and New Zealand. Mr Kingston says that he expects to organise a tour of 100 concerts in New Zealand. The choir sings masses, anthems, and other religious music dressed in surplices in the first part of the programme, and in the second it affects picturesque fancy costumes in accord with the numbers sung, which include operatic numbers, negro spirituals and Johann Strauss waltzes.

The J. C. Williamson Company, he said, is also planning to conduct various concert tours, and at present arrangements are being made in Australia to bring " The White Horse Inn," a spectacular musical play, to New Zealand about September. Mr Kingston said that it is also possible that the new Gilbert and Sullivan Company may come direct to this country after the present Melbourne season. This is contrary to the usual procedure, as on former occasions Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide have always been visited prior to New Zealand. The reason for the possible change in the order of the itinerary is the lack of Williamson theatres in Sydney. Before the " talkies " came the " Firm " controlled Her Majesty's (now Woolworths), the Theatre Royal, and the Criterion, but now there is only the Theatre Royal left, and as the number of attractions increased it took some manoeuvring to juggle the companies round without losing a hold on Sydney.