CITY ORCHESTRA'S FIRST YEAR.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1248, 6 October 1911, Page 4

CITY ORCHESTRA'S FIRST YEAR.

MR. MAUGHAN BARNETT'S REPORT. • Mr. Maughan Ba-mctt, City Organist, has made a report on tho working of tho Municipal Urchestra for tho past year. Tho following aro extracts ironi it:— Tho total number of tickets Bold was 8738, of which 5-liO were for tho sixpenny seats. The receipts were .£314 Bs., and exjienditurc i'3Bi> os. 5d., leaving a deficiency of ,£73 12s. 5d., equal to less than one-fiilh of tho guarantee fund. 1 think it encouraging to find that the loss on the first year's operations has been so comparatively small. I may mention that the attendauco and receipts at each of the last six concerts have steadily increased. Wliilst I bclicvo that financial success will bo attained iu the near future, I think it would bo advisable to ask tho guarantors to continuo the guarantee during the coming season. I would make tho following suggestions regarding the coming season :-r(l) Tho issuo of season tickets to admit holders to twelve concerts, ami to any part of tho hall, tor, say, 10s- per ticket. (2) Tho introduction of vocal items, not only at the orchestra concerts, but also at tho ordinary organ recitals. It would bo understood tuat, generally speaking, any fees paid would be purely nominal. (3) 'tho admission to the scats on the ground lloor between tho platiorui and the gangway facing tho entrance to bo Is. instead of Gd.

The report reached tho City Council last night, and was accompanied by recommendations from the Finance and Property Committee. Tho commitloo recomiuendou that th« council should contribute .C 25 towards tho loss, leaving the guarantors to make, up XlB 12s. 5d., provided the guarantors undertook to continuo their guarantee for a further periou of two years. They also recommended that the suggestions embodied in the organist's report should bo adopted, with tho exception that vocal items should not bo introduced at tho orchestral concerts.

A short discussion followed tho presentation of tho report and tho recommendations. The, Mayor and councillors praised tho music which had been produced by tho orchestra, and expressed a desiro to help the venture. The Mayor said that at first sight Mr. Harnett's proposal regarding tho introduction of vocal items seemed right, but it had to bo reckoned that tho Musical Union and the Choral Society would bo affected if tho suggestion was agreed to. After several councillors had spokon, it was -decided to refer the clause in the oommitteo's rcomuiendations, which boro on this matter, back to tho committee, for further consideration. '