DARING EXPERIMENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 920, 13 March 1930, Page 16

DARING EXPERIMENT

VAUDEVILLE AND CLASSIC MUSIC The daring experiment of presenting classical music at a vaudeville entertainment was recently conducted by Sir Henry Wood and his symphony orchestra. To the surprise of everyone, including Sir Henry himself, it proved a great success. Rapturous cheers greeted Sir Henry Wood and his symphony orchestra at the end of their 40 minutes’ playing at the London Coliseum recently, states the “Daily Chronicle.” The orchestra played five classical items—Prelude to Act 111., “Lohengrin,” Bach’s Aria on the G String, Overture to “William Tell,” Sibelius’s “Valse Triste,” and Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries.” There was tense silence during the Bach Aria and the “Valse Triste,” and the “William Tell” Overture brought enthusiastic cheers, but the last item roused applause like a clap of thunder. Sir Henry took ten curtains while the entire audience clapped and shouts of “Encore” grew to a roar. The 82 artists on the stage looked astonished and mystified at their reception. Great Experience Sir Henry gave the “Lohengrin” Prelude again as an encore. Afterward, perspiring and beaming with delight, he told a “Daily Chronicle” representative that he was “wonderfully surprised. “For this huge audience, after _. ... laughing at the ®"' Henr y Wood music-hall turns, to sit quiet and intent through a Bach Aria is a great experience for me,” he said. “The orchestra are delighted at their success. "I have risked all on the experiment and it has been a triumph. The Bach Aria was a triumph one scarcely dared to hope for. “Sixteen years ago I was here conducting the Pa- ifal Tableaux. I never thought that in 16 years . . .!” Sir Henry threw up his hands joyfully. PICTURE MUSIC Those who remember the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture, “Marianne,” shown recently in Auckland, will remember the catchy little title-song that it featured. It is a fox-trot that should become a warm favourite in the dance-halls and also in the homes. Music from “The Gold Diggers of Broadway” is still in keen demand. Now that the public lias got over its first wild enthusiasm for “Tiptoe Through the Tulips,” it will probably discover that that inteersting little fox-trot, “In a Kitchenette,” also has its attractions. “Pickin’ Petals off o’ Daisies” is the title of one of the principal fox-trots in “Sunny Side Up,” featuring Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell. It lias quite a pleasing lilt, and should quickly become popular. As a change from fox-trots, the theme-song of “Evangeline,” the United Artists production, is a waltz. The music, pleasing melody, is by A 1 Jolson, and in the picture it is sung by Dolores Del Rio. With other music of this type it should have no difficulty in haring its day.

“Love is a Dreamer*’ is the themesons of “Lucky in Love,’’ the big Path® talking picture. It is sung by Morton Downey. Although of the sentimental type it has a pleasing refrain and it should not be long in reaching the ranks of the best-sellers. Our copies are from Alberts.