“TANNHAUSER.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 579, 8 October 1932, Page 25 (Supplement)

“TANNHAUSER.”

Royal Christchurch Musical Society’s Production. The Royal Christchurch Musical Society will give the third concert of the season in the Civic Theatre on Thursday, October 20. Richard Wagner’s opera, “ Tannhauser," has been chosen for presentation. The concert will be given by a strong combination of soloists, chorus and orchestra, under tire direction of Mr W. H. Dixon. The legend is that “ Tannhauser,” who in the thirteenth century was a knight and minstrel, sought refuge from the griefs of the earth in the Hill of Venus, where the goddess was supposed to hold court amid everlasting revels. Tannhauser, becoming weary mf monotonous ioys, longs for earthly life, with its mingled pains and pleasures, and eventually regains his liberty, only to realise with true mediaeval sternness that he is not redeemed, but is doomed to return to the domain of Venus, where, conscience-stricken, he finds everlasting wretchedness. To produce a work of such magnitude, as " Tannhauser,” it is necessary that the leading parts should be placed in confident hands* and, in keeping with the society's high standard of production, the following soloists have been engaged:—Elisabeth and Venus, Madame Winnie Fraser; Landgrave, T. D. Williams; Wolfram, J. Laurenson; Walther, T. Rodgers; Biteroff, J. Wilson; Schrieber, E. Rodgers; Reinmar, J. Tiller; Tannhauser, Hubert Carter. A full house is anticipated for this concert, and patrons are advised to book their seats early at The Bristol.