WEEK OF MUSIC

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23991, 14 December 1939, Page 2

WEEK OF MUSIC

CENTENNIAL FESTIVAL OUTSTANDING VISITING SOLOISTS CO-OPERATION OF DUNEDIN CHOIRS & The idea of a Centennial Week of Music is one that offers great scope, and it is highly pleasing to learn that the committee responsible for the organisation of such an event in Dunedin has undertaken its work on a scale in keeping with the merit of the scheme. Some details of the festival were given to a meeting of members of Dunedin choirs in the View Street Hall last evening, and they were ample to illustrate that the aim of the committee is to unite the choirs in an effort that would be a distinctive centennial celebration and outstanding in the musical history of the Dominion Mr N. R. Mclsaac, chairman of the Dunedin Sub-committee of the National Centennial Music Committee (Wellington) presided over the meeting. and he explained that English artists, vocal and instrumental, were being brought to New Zealand by the Government and would be available to the other cities after they had given their services at the Exhibition. In order to avoid confusion, the National Committee has allotted to Dunedin the

week from Saturday, June 8, _to Saturday, June 15, as the time in which the visitors will be available, and it has given its approval to a most impressive and attractive programme. The visiting artists mclude Mr Anderson Tyrer, conductor of the centennial choir and a musician and pianist whose quality is not unappreciated in Dunedin; Isobel Baillie, soprano; Gladys Ripley, contralto; Meddle Nash, tenor; Oscar Natschke. the New Zealand bass who has done so well in England; Raymond Beattie, also a bass; and several instrumentalists. All will be available for Dunedin’s week, Mr Mclsaac said, and Dunedin choristers and instrumentalists were to be specially coached to assist them. Impressive Programme The programme, which has been adopted, is as follows; Saturday, June B.—A presentation of Mendelssohn’s “ Elijah.” Sunday, June 9.—An interdenominational church service in the Town Hall. Monday, June 10, and Wednesday, June 12.—A stage production of “ Faust.” Tuesday, June 11.—A festival arranged by the British Drama League. Thursday, June 13.—A celebrity concert in which all of the visiting artists will take part. Friday, June 14.—A programme provided by school choirs. Saturday, June 15.—A festival concert for which the programme has been drafted as follows:—” Let Us Now Praise Famous Men,” Professor Galway; “Blest Pair of Sirens” (Parry); a group of songs by Meddle Nash; Alto Rhapsody (Brahms), in which Gladys Ripley will be the soloist; a piano concerto. Mr Anderson Tyrer; “ News from Whydah ” (Balfour Gardiner) ; and, for the second half, Vaughan Williams’s “ Benedict! ” and the same composer’s “ Sea Symphony.” The music required for choir and orchestra is being obtained, and it is expected that practices will begin early in the New Year. Mr Alfred Walmsley has been appointed choirmaster for the training of the festival choir and producer of “ Faust,” and Mr John T. Leech chorus master for ” Faust.” In “ Elijah ” and the festival concert, the visiting soloist will be assisted by combined choirs chosen from the St. Clair Choir, the Royal Dunedin Male Choir, the Returned Soldiers’ Choir, the Lyric Choir, and the Dunedin Choral Society, and instrumental assistance will be given by the Dunedin Orchestral Society. It is not expected that all members of all choirs will be used in “ Faust,” but probably they will provide a chorus of about 80 voices. All of_ the solo work will be done by the visiting artists.