THE SHEFFIELD CHOIR.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIX, Issue 1098, 27 April 1911, Page 19

THE SHEFFIELD CHOIR.

AN IMPORTANT ENTERPRISE. The Sheffield Choir, which is touring Cdnada, has finished its initial season in Montreal, and after touring the States is due in New Zealand on June 2 6 (Coronation Week). The choir is bringing the nucleus of an orchestra, which will be supplemented by some of the best players in New Zealand. So far the following players have been engaged to tour New Zealand by Mr Hugo Gorlitz, represen" tative for Dr. Harriss: —Mr Elerbert Bloy, of Wellington (as leader) ; Mr H. Tombs, of Wellington (leader of second violins); Mr Tombs, of Hastings (viola); Mr Frank Johnston (’cellist) and Mrs Johnston (’cellist), of !■ Wellington; Miss JSymons (second violin), of Hastings; Mr Maurice Cohen (viola), of Palmerston North; Miss Doris MTntyre (violin), of Christchurch; Miss Croucher (violin), of Palmerston North; Mr D. Sinclair (clarionet), of. Wellington; Mr L. Blitz (double bass), of Auckland; and Mr Dave Kenney (third horn). Starting from. Liverpool on March 17 th, Dr. Henry Coward’s Sheffield choir of 200 singers is making a tour of the world —one of the largest programmes ever undertaken by a choral society. Sir Edward Elgar, the famous composer, will accompany the choir to Canada 2nd the United States, and, with Dr. Henry Coward and Dr. Charles Harriss, will act as conductor. The choir will make an extensive tour of Canada and the United States, afterwards visiting Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, arriving

back m England on September 30 th. Daring the tour the Sheffield choir will give over 140 concerts, their musical programme including fourten oratorios and cantatas and many gnees, madrigals and songs. The choristers will take with them an extensive repertory, including ' The Messiah,” "Elijah,” "Gerontinus,” "Golden Legend, ’ "The Kingdom,” "Sing ye to the Lord,” (Bach), ‘Faust” (Berloiz), "Requiem” (Verdi), “Blest Pair of Sirens” (Parry), "Pani” (Charles Harris), choral symphony and innumerable choruses, part-songs, glees, and madrigals by English composers dead and living, while special "Empire” programmes will be sung, dealing chiefly with patriotic music.

The following are the dates booked during its tour of New Zealand: — Auckland, June 26, 27, and 28; Wellington, June 29 to July 1; Christchurch, July 2 to 5; Dunedin, July 6,7, and 8; and Invercargill, July

After the Mar am a had left Sydney on its recent trip, a cripple was discovered on board attempting to stow himself away for the purpose of returning to Welling’on, where his mother is seriously ill. Mr George Sleplu uson and his new company,

‘ Th<« Wanderers,” held a concert on board with the object o assisting the unt ri'iiia'e As a result a sum of £3 w.’s raised, £4 of winch went to pay th- Ftmiage fart, and the remainder g'vcii the man

One thing that impressed me,” said Mr J. C. Williamson in an interview Mnce his return, "was the way some of the Continental cities turn night into day. The operas and dramatic pieces commence about the same time as they do here. Then the playgoers crowd into the big cafos and restaurants and sit down to a regular five or six course meal After that they go to the theatre again At midnight the vaudeville houses commence, and give a rezllv good show until 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning. Then if the playgoer is enthusiastic enough, he can go to the theatie again, for some, of the shows keep opeu all night long.”

It is expected by the management of the Adelphi Theatre that "The Bad Girl of the Family.’ will put up a Sydney record for drama. If this is justified it will be a fitting opening for Sydney’s largest theatre and its youngest manager.

Maggie Aiooie received an uproarious welcome from a packed house when she appeared in "Struck Oil’ at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, the other evening. Galleryites commenced to roll up early in the evening, and shortly after six o’clock that portion of the house was full. When the curtain rose, not a, seat in the theatre was unoccupied. The popular actress was given an ovation, and the piece was welcomed with the greatest possible enthusiasm. Air h. R. Roberts w. s also given a warm welcome.

"Seven Days,” recently played here by Hugh Ward and Co., was a year old on November 1 last. This clever comedy was produced by Wagenhals and Kemper for the first time on any stage at the Taylor Opera House, Trenton, N. J., on November 1,1909. The piece was unknown and the receipts were 91.50 dollars. Exactly a year afterwards, on November 1, 1910, the play was again given at Trenton. This time the takings were 1,4 71 75 dollars. Over one thousand applications have been received by Mr George Marlow for positions at the Adelphi Theatre, Sydney. With the innumerable other things incidental to the opening of a new theatre in a metropolitan city, Mr Marlow’s staff is having an unusually busy time. * * * * With Mr Walter Baker playing the parts of the late Max Maxwell, the successful company now at the King’s Theatre, Melbourne, will be continued under the management of Air George D. Portus as the Max Maxwell Dramatic Company. The Alelbourne season, which has been of a record character, terminates this week, after which the company will visit Broken Hill and the West.