"MERRIE ENGLAND.”

Shannon News, 7 October 1927, Page 2

"MERRIE ENGLAND.”

EDWARD GERMAN’S LIGHT OPERA

Edward German, composer of the light opera, "Memo England," which , is to be produced by the Shannon Choral Society on Thursday evening next, was born at Whitchurch, in Shropshire, off February 17th, 1862. He was educated at Bridge House School, Chester, and in 18S0 entered the Royal Academy of Music, which lie left in 1887. For some time he played the vioJin in leading orchestras, but later devoted hjimself entirely to composition. As a conductor he is famous, having ■ had charge of . all the great musical festival! in England. His orchestral publications include a number of symphonies and suites, besides incidental music for various Shakespearean plays. Among ill is better known works are the .following: —Symphonic suite, "The Seasons 1 "' (1899); music to "Nell Gwyir”;- (1900); operetta, "The Rival PoeVs { ’(-1902); Savoy .operas, ‘‘The Emerald Isle'.’ (with the late Sir Arthur Sullivan, 1901), "Merrie England" (1902), and "A Princess of Kensington" (1903); "Welsh Rhapsody" (1904); comic opera, "Tom Jones" (1907); Savoy opera, "Moon Fairies" (with the late Sir W. S. Gilbert, 1909); Coronation March and Hymn performed in Abbey at the Coronation of King George V." (1911); "Just So" song book (with Rudyard Kipling), and many songs and pianoforte pieces. The following note will give some idea of the quality of the artists appearing:— "Miss Nora Greene, a young English contralto, made her first appearance before the Wellington public at an invitation recital in the Town Hall Concert Chamber on Saturday, and the reception accorded her was a tribute to her singing. Miss Greene has a warm beautiful voice, not as full as is usual - in the lower register, but marked by characteristics of the best contraltos we have heard here. Her voice shows 'the results of conscientious training along the right lines, and the singer herself imbues her songs and arias with rare sympathy and intelligence. ' The musical quality of her voice was always held paramount and a pleasing feature is. her clear and distinct enunciation — a rare attribute nowadays."—Dominion.

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