CENTENNIAL VOCALISTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 July 1940, Page 4

CENTENNIAL VOCALISTS

PERFORMANCE IN MASTERTON. STRING QUARTET ALSO COMING. As the result of representations made by the Mayor of Masterton, Mr T. Jordan, the overseas vocalists who have been taking part in the Centennial Music Festivals in the cities and a string quartet will give a performance in Masterton on Saturday, July 13. Masterton was not included in the original itinerary but following Mr Jordan’s appeal to the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon W. E. Parry, an alteration was made including Masterton in the North Island tour. The party will consist of Miss Isobel Baillie (soprano), Miss Gladys Ripley (contralto). Mr Heddle Nash (ten£p, and Mr Oscar Natzke (bass). accompanist and solo pianist will be Mr Clifford Huntsman, an English pianist. The string quartet will consist of Messrs Vincent Aspey (first violin), Harry Ellwood (second violin), William McLean (viola) and Frank Bate (’cello). Mr Jordan said this morning that he wished to express his appreciation of the action of Mr Parry and Mr A. W. Mulligan (secretary of the Centennial Council) in amending the itinerary by including Masterton in the tour. It was up to the public to show its appreciation also by attending the performance in large numbers. SOUVENIR PROGRAMME. Popular interest in the Centennial Celebrity Concert to be presented in Masterton on July 13 will be enhanced by a special souvenir programme which will include biographies, photographs and repertoires of the artists and the New Zealand National Song, “God Defend New Zealand,” with some notes on the author, Thomas Bracken, and the composer of the music, John •Joseph Woods. Instead of having a separate fixed programme for each concert for the provincial centres, it has been deemed preferable to have one publication in which of course the repertoires are the main feature. The artists will announce their selection of the numbers .vhich the spirit moves them to sing explay.