THE STAGE AND MUSIC

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21525, 13 September 1941, Page 11

THE STAGE AND MUSIC

Hamiltonians at Sydney Eisteddfod Two Hamiltonians—Alma Burton and Keith Priscott—competed at the Sydney Eisteddfod. Miss Burton, though she sang well, did not manage to come first in any of the classes. She was up against great competition, being No. 53 in or.e section. Mr Priscott, who won toe baritone championship last year, entered only in one class, the men’s operatic championship, this year. He came third in a big class, gaining 86 points to the winner’s 89. The judge said that he liked the quality of the Hamilton singer’s voice, but at the moment it was not quite mature enough for heavy grand opera. The two finalists were much older than Mr Priscott, consequently their voices were more “set” for opera. The operatic aria was won by a munitions worker, Allan Ferris. Earlier he had won the baritone solo, Gilbert and Sullivan section, and was placed second in men’s oratorio and male radio voice. Mr Ferris, machinist in an aircraft factory, said he had been studying singing seriously for only three years. “I am unable to do much now,” he said, “as I am working twelve-hour shift’.” The Melba Trophy for men was won by William Swift, a frenchpolisher, of Newcastle. He also won the bass championship, the bass ballad, the oratorio for men, and the Bach aria for men. Hamiltonians in Melbourne Bruce Anderson, formerly prominent in the musical life of Hamilton, being a gifted pianist and singer, has left Brisbane where he had been living for some years, to take charge of a branch of a Music School in Melbourne. Piano Recital in Hamilton Under the direction of the Hamilton Music Students’ Association, Lloyd Powell, the brilliant pianist, will give a recital next Wednesday night. Oscar Natzke in New York When the last mail left, Oscar Natzke, the New Zealand bass, was in New York, where he was to appear with the Metropolitan Grand Opera. “No Exit” in Sydney "No Exit” will be staged at the Minerva Theatre. Sydney, tonight, succeeding “The Two Mrs Carrolls.” Famous Choirboy Becomes a Fireman Ernest Lough, with 680,000 gramophone records sold, was a choirboy when he made his lovely "Hear My Prayer.” • Today he is a stalwart fireman, training a choir from the Auxiliary Fire Service at Harrow-on-the-Hill.