SIR H. WOOD

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 84, 30 June 1927, Page 14

SIR H. WOOD

TO LEAD THE FINEST ORCHESTRA IN EUROPE

BROADCASTING OFFER The British Broadcasting Company announce that from June 1 Sir Henry Wood will be closely associated with broadcasting. The company states that it regards this development as a favourable augury for the future progress of tis efforts to reconcile the essential interests of music with broadcasting. It is their intention to collect an orchestra which will be one of the finest in Europe and to give the performances from the best hall available in London.

Sir Henry has promised to conduct a number of special concerts for the British Broadcasting Company during the summer; and in continuing his world-renowned work for music he will be acting in full co-operation with broadcasting. The selection of suitable halls narrows itself down to two or three; and as the Albert Hall was found during the winter and spring in connection with the series of 8.8. C. National Concerts, to be not entirely suitable for broadcasting purposes, the choice for the new series may finally settle upon the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Gottfried Wagner, grandson of the great creator of the music-drama, has made his debut as a pianist at a recent concert at Bayreuth, Germany.

Antonio Scotti, the operatic baritone, who first arrived in America in October, 1899, took out his first citizenship papers on May 9. He said he was a native of Naples, was 58 years old, and resided in the Hotel Vanderbilt in New York. He explained that he has long considered himself an American citizen even though he was not naturalised.

At the conclusion of the present season it is the intention of the Bohemian Orchestra to give a plebiscite concert, and with this end in view a list of the principal items performed by the orchestra since 1914 will be issued at the concert to be given on Thursday night next. Subscribers will be invited to write their eight favourite items on 2l form provided and post same to the secretary. It will indeed be interesting to note the result of the popular selection.

One of the sweetest and most melodious of the chamber works of the immortal Tchaikovsky will be found in the Andante Cantabile movement from his famous Quartet in D. This was one of his early works, but bears the distinct impress of that genius and perfect mastery of form that were to make this great Russian one of the outstanding composers of the middle 19th century. It forms a two part Columbia recording, played, as many of the best examples of string music have been played, by the Lener String Quartet, of Budapest. It has been recorded before by the same company, but this is the first electrical impression gramophiles have had, and it is moreover the first recording of this work to have been made in a concert hall. The Lener literally excel; touch and technique leave little room for criticsm, and the fidelity of string tone is superbly effective. A gem of music for all music lovers.

Not one of the several excellent vaudeville acts that have helped Wellington’s new cinema, The Regent, to success, has anything on “The Big Four,” a splendid J. C. Williamson quartet of male voices who opened the new year “variety” programme. These singers have all the characteristics and verve that have made some of their American contemporaries famous, and they proved to Wellington that there is art as well as entertainment in the harmony-singing of popular songs. Some of these latter are now available in record form through Columbia—favourite tunes actually sung by the Big Four. They include “Sarah Alice,” a catchy lyrical effort even more diverting than “Maggie, Yes Ala,” which was one of the Big Four’s best. With it is “Thanks for the Buggy Ride,” given such refreshingly new treatment that it is, here, even more enjoyable than when it first came on to the song market. Perhaps the cleverest effort of any, however, is this combination’s

“Katinka,” from the London success of that name. It is notable for the fact that it has “The Song of the Volga Boatman” perfectly blended in as bass.

“Until” and “Alate o’ Aline” are two old, but enjoyable numbers sung by the Big Four,