WONDERFUL COMBINATION

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 759, 4 September 1929, Page 16

WONDERFUL COMBINATION

WESTMINSTER GLEE SINGERS The musical event of the current sea- ; son will take place here on Saturday. September 14, when the famous Westminster Glee Singers will give a series of concerts in His Majesty’s Theatre, commencing with a matinee on that day. A unique body, the Westminster Glee Singers is made up of men and boys selected from the most famour cathedral choirs in England, particularly Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s, St ; George’s, Windsor, and Christ Church i Cathedral. They come direct from a ; remarkable series of triumphs in . Canada, through which country they j have been touring continuously for IS j months, filling the largest auditoriums ! to overflowing and making return visits to cities and towns again and again with the same results. The repertoire of the singers is remarkable. They are equally at homo with sacred ox* secular music. Their singing is marked by perfect balance of voices, beauty and expression, absolute precision and co-ordination, and a sonority and splendour of tone, particularly in their unaccompanied selections, that recalls the -finest singing in the old English Cathedrals. Elaborate and artistic stage settings and lighting effects enhance the charm of their entertainment, which is in no sense like the customary concert. The adult artists include Edward Branscombe, for ten years tenor soloist at Westminster Abbey; Donald Reid, solo alto, St. Paul’s Cathedral; William Lowry, soloist St. Paul’s; Charles O’Connor, the eminent Irish tenor and gifted harpist; Ernest McKinlay, tenor; Charles Draper, a basso well known in operatic circles; James Barber, celebrated Scottish basso; and Albert Greene, from principal London concerts. The six boy sopranos from London church choirs are Douglas Bartrip, Vincent Petley, Harry Fearn, Norman Clarke, Alan Goodered, Sidney Walls. These singers have a repertoire of over one hundred and fifty pieces, covering the entire range of English musical culture at its best. The New Zealand tour is under* the direction of Henry Hayward, by arrangement with Edward Branscombe, the organiser of the Empire tour. The box plans for the season of seven nights and three matinees will be opened at Lewis Eady, Ltd., on Thursday, September 12. Liberal concessions are offered to pupils from schools and colleges.