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Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 162, 29 September 1927, Page 16

Mr. Cyril Tov sey, the -well-known Auckland accompanist, who so successfully acted in that capacity for Madame Frances Alda at her opening recital on Tuesday r ight, will join the party for the remainder of the New Zealand tour as solo pianist and accompanist.

In the Assembly Hall, Melbourne, a farewell concert was recently tendered to Mr. Kenneth Impett, the young Auckland baritone, who is proceeding to Italy to undertake a long course of study. Mr. Impett expects to leave Melbourne on October 8.

The great annual band contest in England was held on Saturday last. There were six grades, or sections, for which 140 bands entered. The test selection for the 1.000-guinea trophy and the championship “The White Rider,’* was composed by Mr. Dennis Wright. Mr. Wright also arranged the test piece, “Joan of Arc,’’ for the championship two years ago. The test selections for the other five sections were “An Epic Symphony,” “On the Corn :sh Coast,’’ “Anna Bolena,” “Don Giovanni.” and “Cosi Fan Tutte.”

The cast for the Royal Wellington Choral Union’s performance of “Aida” on November 5 is as follows: Aida, Miss K. Campion: Amneris, Miss M. Caldow; Radames, Mr. Hubert Carter; Amcnasro, Mr. Barry Coney: High Priest, Mr. H&rison Cook; King of Egypt, Mr. T. Wood. Mr. H&rison Cook has been conducting the preliminary rehearsals until Mr. Colin Muston takes over for the final preparation.

“J. C. Williamson, Ltd., would be prepared to give a grand opera season every year i:.* it received a Government subsidy or public guarantee,” said Mr. Frank Tait, one of the managing directors of the firm, commenting recently on Sir Thomas Beecham’s opera project for Britain. It is not expected, however that the guarantee will be forthcoming.

According to an overseas paper, a surgeon has assured a fine singer who was leading baritone in Paris at the Opera for many years that he can and will restore his voice and make him sing again as he did when he was twenty. This seductive suggestion has been made tc M. Lucien Muratore, who has not been heard in opera for a long time. With his wife, Mme. “Ana Cavalieri, also a pre-war operatic star, lie now runs a beauty parlour near the Champs Ellysees.

Miss Gertrude Johnson, the Melbourne soprano, who was heard in Christchurch with the last Grand Opera Company, has received highly favourable notices for her recent recital at Wigmore Hall, liondon. She is described by “The Times” critic as a very skilful singer, who showed i\ beautifully controlled tone in Handel’s “O Sleep, Why Dost Thou Leave Vie?’ ” The reviewer adds that Bach’s Phoebus and Pan” aria was very neatly sung, and that in Mozart’s “L’ Amero,” the artist’s vocalisation was very true and clean.

Fiercer and hairier than ever, with whiskers ferocious from cold storage, the “Pirates of Penzance” stamped across the stage of Her Majesty’s Theatre in Sydney recently in another and very popular revival of Gilbert and Sullivan’s old favourite. It was played by Messrs. J. C. Williamson’s Gilbert and Sullivan Company, who will shortly be coming to New Zealand with “Ruddtgore.” Miss Strella Wilson was the Mabel of the piece, Mr. John Ralston the sergeant of police, Mr. James Hay the pirate apprentice (Frederick) and Mr. Lance Fairfax the Pirate King.