IT STARTS THIS WEEK:

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 46, 10 May 1940, Page 8

IT STARTS THIS WEEK:

Dunedin First=Then Christchurch, Auckland And Wellington: District Arrangements Reviewed A musical event, which caps 100 years and starts off another 100, begins this week in New Zealand. Dunedin will be first to hear the visiting celebrity singers and Andersen Tyrer’s Centennial Symphony Orchestra. On Saturday next May 11, their tour will open with a performance in Dunedin of "Elijah." Isobel Baillie, Gladys Ripley, Heddle Nash, Raymond Beatty, Oscar Natzke, Frank Bermingham, are the soloists touring with the orchestra. Harrison Cook is assisting with production work. In each centre the work of the orchestra and soloists will be used as a framework for building up concerts which will make all possible use of local talent. This work has been managed by local Centennial Committees, whose activities are reviewed here by men who have taken a leading part in them. The Government is in the first place responsible for organising the Festival. It is being arranged by the Department of Internal Affairs, with the co-operation of the National Broadcasting Service. ’

IN DUNEDIN GREAT CHOIR ASSEMBLED Music Week in Dunedin, arranged as part of the National Centennial Celebrations, will actually be longer than a week, as the festival has been arranged from May 11 to 20, and there will be major presentations on eight nights. Dunedin, always the home of good music, believes that its contribution to the festival is especially important. Dr. V. E. Galway, who holds the chair of music at the University of Otago, is Dunedin city organist, and also Otago representative on the National Committee of six members, told The Listener that no other city had seen a combination of all musical societies for the purpose of forming a huge Centennial choir. Rehearsals under Alfred Walmsley had been taking place for months past. So that best -effects might be obtained, ordinary subscribers’ concerts had been abandoned for the first quarter of the year. The result had been uninterrupted rehearsal for Music Week and the formation of one of the finest choirs ever known in the Dominion. The choir consists of 406 voices, drawn from the Dunedin Royal Male Choir, the Choral Society, the Returned Soldiers’ Choir, the Leech Lyric Choir, the Training College Choral Society, and the Cecilia Choir. This great choir is giving two performances, "Elijah," which opens the festival on May 11, and modern choral works on May 18. Among the works to be presented on May 18 will be "Festival Te Deum" (Sullivan), "Sea Symphony" (Vaughan Williams), "Songs of the Fleet" (Stanford), and "Let Us Now Praise Famous Men" (Galway). Dora Dreke will be the soloist in "Festival Te Deum," and the only local soloist performing at that concert. Honour for Local Artists In addition to this choir, 60 voices have been trained by John T. Leech to participate in the fullstage version of "Faust," to be presented on May 13, 15, and 20. In this presentation, Richard Duerdon, well-known Dunedin bass-baritone, will be heard in solo numbers, and it is a tribute to Mr. Duerdon’s. voice that he should be singing in an opera in which the main part is taken by Heddle Nash. The other Dunedin artist to be given an opportunity of solo work is Ethel Wallace, who needs no introduction to radio listeners. She will have the honour of taking the solo in Mozart’s Violin Concerto in A Major, which will be part of the performance of the Centennial Orchestra under. Andersen Tyrer, on May 16. A chamber music recital, featuring the string quartet from the orchestra, will be given on May 17. Nothing Like It Before "The importance of such a festival," said Dr. Galway, "lies in the extent to which it can make New Zealanders music-conscious — good-music-con-

scious, that is. To a degree the radio and the gramophone perhaps make them aware of musical values, but neither medium can produce the real spirit of

music. That can be done only by such an orchestra as is to visit the city. Moreover, the presentation of opera on a scale such as ‘Faust’ will be presented, will give people a true valuation of what opera really is. With the Centennial Orchestra, a trained chorus of 60 voices, and with such singers as have come to us from overseas, Dunedin will be treated to grand opera as it has never before seen or heard. "Many people prefer always to listen to the radio at home, where there are countless distractions which prevent a whole-hearted: appreciation being registered. However good recorded or radio reproduction may be, it never conveys the personal element or the living spirit of music. Music is really a personal thing, and must be heard in the right environment. In a filled hall it is possible to obtain a genuine thrill which lasts for a long time and which produces the fullest enjoyment. The Music Week festival will unquestionably provide that thrill, and once inspired, if it can be retained, there should be happier days ahead for public’ musical recitals of whatever form." A sound committee has arranged the festival in Dunedin, and much hard work has been done to ensure its complete success. Apart from Dr. Galway, this committee includes such well-known personalities as N. R. Mclsaac (chairman), Alfred Walmsley, John T.. Leech, Edward Kerr, G, E, Wilkinson, A

Fleming, P. Anderson, L. B. Borrow, C. F. Watson, Dr. T. Vernon Griffiths, Mrs. H. C. Campbell. and Miss Meda Paine. a x % CHRISTCHURCH PREPARES " DR. FAUSTUS " TO BE GIVEN Net only overseas artists, but the pick of New Zealand’s musicians will be present in Christchurch when special Centennial musical celebrations are held in that city, following on the main historical events of April. Taking its place in the presentation of the National Festival of Music, Christ--church will begin the celebrations on May 24 at the Theatre Royal and conclude on June 2, The festival, in accordance with the national mature of the occasion, will be along lines completely new to Christchurch. Intensive preparations have been made by the Christchurch committee, which has met weekly for some time, and has carefully planned what is hoped to be an event of wide musical importance. Exploring All Avenues The committee, The Listener was informed in an interview with officials, has been assisted from Government and local official sources, and the musical value of the festival will be unquestionably great. It is expected to give the public a truer conception of how great works are performed overseas. The Christchurch committee is imbued with the right spirit, and is consistent in its endeavours to explore the various avenues of organisation thoroughly. This spirit is especially exemplified by the chairman, Mr. Andrews. The Christchurch officials are: Chairman, T. Andrews; representative of the National Centennial Music Committee, Dr. James Hight, C.M.G.; supervisor, Len. C. Travers; committee, Professor J. C. Bradshaw, Alfred Worsley, V. C. Peters, F. A. Bullock, F. C. Penfold, Len Barnes, R. A. Beveridge, G. M. Telfer, J. Mackenzie, F. Tucker, K. G, Archer, R. B. Hean, F. H. Walls, F. A. Silcock, A. E. Wylliams, Mrs. R. J. McLaren, Captain W. S. King. The stage-manager in Christchurch is E. Craighead, and secretary of Music Week is Mrs. N. W. Robbins. P. R. Climie is a member of the committee as secretary of the Centennial Executive, Historic Musical Occasion The Festival will open with a stage presentation of "Faust." Performances on succeeding evenings will include "King Olaf,’ by the combined musical bodies of Christchurch, the Centennial Symphony Orchestra and combined male voice choirs, "Carmen" and works by the Christchurch Liederkrantzchen, "Dr. Faustus" (by Andersen Tyrer), performed by the Orpheus Choir, and "Elijah" by the Christchurch | Harmonic Society. At all these performances the Symphony Orchestra will present works, either in (Continued on opposite page)

Centennial Music Festival

(Continued from previous page) an instrumental or accompanying capacity. On the final night a celebrity concert will be presented by the Symphony Orchestra, under Mr. Tyrer, and by all the overseas artists. An integral part of the committee’s work has been the compilation of a souvenir programme which will contain the photographs of leading musical personalities and provide Christchurch with a printed record of an historic musical occasion. * * ~ IN AUCKLAND CRESCENDO THE AIM F enthusiasm and both individual and collective effort constitute any guarantee, Auckland’s aim of providing a resounding crescendo in the Dominion’s Centennial festival season should be fully realised. Already, though the visiting artists are not scheduled to arrive until June 5, the general arrangement of the Auckland season has been settled and the Fine Arts Sub-committee of the Centennial Council, which has been charged with the organisation, has passed on to matters of detail. Scenery and Costumes As in the case of other centres, the festival season will represent for Auckland the high-water mark in cultural achievemerit. "Faust," for example, with visiting soloists, chorus, orchestra and ballet, will be presented four times at His Majesty’s Theatre, opening the season on June 7 and with further performances on June 10, 12 and 15. Provision of the chorus for the opera has been entrusted to the Auckland Operatic Society, which has also been responsible for providing the scenery and costumes for use in other centres as well. Most of what is a first-class wardrobe for the opera was actually made in Auckland, and all the scenery was painted locally. The efficiency and expedition which has marked the preparations on the operatic side is due in large part to the enthusiastic leadership of Hewitt Edwards, chairman of the operatic society’s committee, who has thrown all his energies into the enterprise. "The Dream of Gerontius" Another. highlight of the Auckland season will be the presentation, by the Auckland Choral Society, assisted .by the Royal Auckland Male Choir and accompanied by the National Orchestra, of Elgar’s "Dream of Gerontius." The principal parts in. this noble work, the libretto of which was written by Cardinal Newman at a time when he was deeply affected by the death of a friend, will be taken by Gladys Ripley, Heddle Nash and Raymond Beatty. "The Dream of Gerontius" will be presented on June 8 at the Auckland Town Hall, The Royal Auckland Male Choir, under the conductorship of Harry Woolley, will have the limelight on June 11. Part-songs will be sung by the choir, the main presentation being "The Desert," with Heddle Nash as soloist. Isobel Baillie and Heddle Nash will also contribute solo items. The following evening, in the Town Hall Concert Chamber, a programme of chamber music will be presented. by the Auckland Chamber Music Society, and the soloist on this occasion will be the New Zealand bass, Oscar Natzke. Orchestral Treat The major orchestral offering of the season will ‘be the programme to be presented by the Auckland Symphony Orchestra, combined with the National Orchestra. The combined orchestra will embrace some 90 musicians-will be, in short, a full symphony orchestra such as Auckland has not heard before. As a fitting reward for long weeks of exact_ing preparation, this great orchestra will be conducted by the Aucklander, Colin Muston, Items in preparation by the orchestra include Weber’s "Oberon Overture," Beethoven’s "Fifth Symphony," the "Nor-

wegian Kunstler Carnival" of Svendsen, Mozart’s "Serenade for Strings" and "Finlandia," by Sibelius. Gladys Ripley and Oscar Natzke will be the assisting soloists. Further choral works will be presented on June 14 by the Dorian Choir, under Albert Bryant, with the National Orchestra and Isobel Baillie and: Oscar Natzke as soloists. This concert will be of special interest in that the choir will present "The Burial of King Cormac," the work of the Auckland composer, H. C. Luscombe, Mus. Bac. Two Sunday Concerts From June 7 until June 16 there will be a programme every evening in Auckland, and the period will include two Sunday evening concerts. The first, .on June 9, will be marked. by a programme by the National. Orchestra, and the second will see the combined and celebrity Farewell Concert. The latter should be a doubly memorable occasion since, for the choral items, some 500 voices will be assembled. At it, too, will be sung the "Centennial Ode," composed by H. C. Luscombe, and the "Centennial Song," with words by Isabel M. Cluett and music by E. Rupert Morton. More than musical rehearsal has, of course, been necessary to prepare for the season, and a great deal of general organisation has been carried out by members of the Fine Arts Committee (under the chairmanship of J. S. Stewart), by C. B. Plummer, chairman of the music section and Professor H. Hollinrake, Auckland representative on the National Committee, while one of the busiest appears to be the Auckland City Treasurer, T. W. M. Ashby, who is also secretary to the Fine Arts Committee. Fine art has been the aim of all the varied activity, and pictorial art has not been forgotten in the homage paid to music. The committee contemplates issuing a souvenir programme covering the whole festival, fully illustrated and with an appropriately symbolic cover design, in full colour. The cover has been designed by A. J. C. Fisher, director of the Elam School of Art. see. * * * WELLINGTON IS READY " &\ MAGNIFICENT GESTURE" "NY/ E have the singers, the musicians, the choirs, the conductors. We have booked halls, and we shall have artistically printed programmes. We have, in fact, everything we need to make this Music Week worthy of that occasion. All we need in addition is public support."

In these words, William M. Page, Chairman of the Wellington Centennial Committee, summed up his review of what had been done locally to justify what he called the "magnificent gesture" of the Government in giving practical encouragement to the Centennial Music Festival. The touring Symphony Orchestra and celebrity artists will leave Auckland on June 17, and the first item in The Week in the Capital will be a vocal and orchestral concert on June 22. On June 24 there will be a choral concert, followed the next night by "Faust" (Gounod), -with the full orchestra and all principals. On Wednesday, June 26, there will be the play, "Quality Street" and a symphony concert. Another performance of "Faust" will follow on the Thursday, and between this and the last performance of "Faust" on Saturday, June 29, will be a concert by Stanley Oliver’s Schola Cantorum, ith strings. i A Social Duty Mr. Page is a lover of music; not a musician. He gives himself this description, and it is borne out by his service to music and the arts in general in Wellington. He believes that there is a duty upon people to taste all the arts. He believes this is as imperative as any other social duty. Although he does not paint or sculpt, he appreciates good painting and sculpture, He was for ten years president of the very strong Wellington -Repertory Society. He is a member of the Council of the Wellington Symphony Orchestra, and of the British Music Society. Radio Set in Each Room And he takes his interests seriously. He says he has yet to be convinced that radio provides a good influence. He has seen so few people using their sets ‘with discrimination. He defines noise as "any sound I do not want to hear," and by this standard believes that it is bad for people to be subjected continuously to the background of "noise" made by radio. So when last year he agreed to give in to his family’s demands for a radio set in his Wellington home, he made a condition that each member of the family must have a separate set in his or her room. This ideal has been achieved, and each listens according to taste. Mr. Page confesses that, when he does decide to listen to an item picked from the programmes, he sits in front of his set and takes it in as if he were at a concert, with no book or other distraction. A choir of 50 voices has been assembled for the "Faust" choruses, he told The Listener, and all local choirs have been invited to give their services for concert work. . Is Wellington Apathetic? Mr. Page is not altogether happy about music and the arts in Wellington. He does not talk of his interests from an "arty" point of view. He views them as complements to living as necessary as dentists, or keeping your shoes clean, and he does not find about him quite as much similar enthusiasm as he would like. The Wellington Symphony Orchestra is not flourishing, for example, and this worries him. When applications for positions in the Festival choir were called. for, the response was not overenthusiastic. ‘ However, he believes that enthusiasm will be encouraged by this Music Week if it can bet encouraged at all. He would rather hear and see a ences singer than hear a first-class broadcast recording. Now radio has done him the service of co-operating with the Government to bring first-class singers and ‘other artists so that he can both see and hear them, and he is very pleased at the prospect; anxious only that all Wellington will believe with him that here is something too good. to miss. The Wellington Provincial Centennial Music Committee is: Mr. Page (chairman), E. M: Bardsley (secretary), Karl Atkinson, S. G. Creswell, H. -R. Searle, G. H.-A. Swan; Charles Collins, :