CHORAL RECIPROCITY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1684, 26 February 1913, Page 7

CHORAL RECIPROCITY.

■ NOT TH;iS, YEAR-—PERHAPS NEXT. ■ .At tho annual meeting of tho Wellington Choral; Society last evening, mention wns made of Inst year's proposal that it would bo In tho interests of music to establish sometime in the nature of choral reciprocity between Auckland and Wellington, about which nothing hasbeen heard for tho past six months. Mr. R. T. Caldow (chairman of the committeo) expressed some surprise that no member lind mentioned the subject. Perhaps they thought that because Mr. Manghan Harnett was going to Auckland thfit Wellington was going to be left in the cold. But that was not really the case. The Auckland Society had found that its hands would be'so full with its own work nnd the extra work in connection with 'the Exhibition (to bo held in December next), that they found it'difficult to se-s how Wellington could como out of it successfully from a financial point of view. But Auckland had not turned the -proposal down indefinitely, and hoped to take the matter up next year, Ho saw no. reason why Mr. Hellemann should not conduct tho society in Auckland, next j-ear, Incidentally, Mr. Caldow mentioned "Carmen" was. miing to bo a very oxtieilsivc concert. Tlicy wanted ten principals, and wero endeavouring to get the very best talent in and oiit of tho Dominion. The public would bo standing in their own light if the.v did not accept"tho invitation to become honorary members, ns tho prices of admission must go up. Tho society could not give the concert for tho usual !H, 25., and Is. They ought to have more honorary members. The Auckland 1""1 Si"), nnd they had not 800. In a citv like Wellington they should have - 10()fl. 'rite principal part in "Carmen" wis .'he imme part, nnd though not ■'absolutely fixed they hnd nractieallv come to terms with Ihe lidy who would sing the part. He could not mention the name, but f;lm had nlayed ilie role witli tho Gerninn Opera Company. The.v were also opening up iiiwlintioris for the apnearnnee here ill "Elijah" of one nf Enjrland's si-oalcst sonranos, who would bo in ■New Zealand,nhnijt tho tiniest was performed. Mr.' Hellemann (the-new conductor) had been asked to interest himself ill tho 'matter.