GEORGE ROBEY AS A CONDUCTOR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 87, 7 January 1919, Page 8

GEORGE ROBEY AS A CONDUCTOR

HIGH COMEDY FOR AVORTHY OBJECT. It was a happy thought of Mr. Landon Ronald (writes "A.K.," in the "Daily News") to have a humorous concert at Queen's Hall in aid of the Red Cross, and it was happily carried out yesterdav. The public looked forward eagerly to George Kobcy's debut as a conductor of serious music. When he appeared hardly recognisable, because the traditional eyebrows were not there) he' was greeted with a shout of laughter, and ho looked! fiercqly—as is his wont—at the crowd. ' It was some time before he was allowed to start, but when he did he conducted .the Pizzicato from Delibes' "Sylvia," and the Albert Hall Orchestra played it very well. He has a very well-marked beat/and I think he meant to conduct seriously, but the public would not let him, nnd he was very funny, especially when he repeated the performance with exaggerated expression and sudden changes of timo. Amusing, too, was the playing of the finale of Haydn's "Farewell" Symphony, under Sir Frederick Cowen, in _ the dark-, ened hall, with only caudles in the orchestra,' which the players blew-out as they stole silently away one by one, till the conductor was left beating time to the empty seats. Then an attendant drew his attention .to the fact, and he tou blew out his lights. The climax was a performance of '.Blagrove's "Toy Symphony" with an orchestra including Sir Alexander J[ nc . kfnzio. Sir..Frederick Cowen, Sir Edward Elgar,'. Mr. Edward German and a host of other celebrities, headed by Mine. Albini,.who' had a specially warm welcome. Mr.' Landon Ronald started conducting with a baton at least nine feet long, Sir Alexander Mackenzie hustled' him from his place, and was in turn rvicted by Mr. Edwnrtl Orrmnn. Finally five conductors hold the slick at once. The orchestra rose from its seats a"d danced a hornpipe. Sir Alexander 'Mackenzie sheltered himself behind i.i largo umbrella from th" shnw«rs cawed bv the Indies (led bv Mi.« Mur°l Foster)', wlm played nightingales with glnves of water.- Mr. Tlarrv Dearth's cndenzii on ' the rnnth-romb. which h" would not. finish, in spite of the i-onHiWovs' frenzied protests, was much admired. ..It was very : rood foolin" in n very gO"d cau«o. the New Hebrides and Banks Groups, the Banks Group and several islands of