Around The Nationals

New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 90, 14 March 1941, Page 24

Around The Nationals

Siqescdnesaniemoonnad S Andersen Tyrer will shortly be leaving New Zealand, particular interest attaches to the programmes by the combined NBS String Orchestra and 2YA Concert Orchestra which he will conduct next week. On Sunday night, March 16, there will be heard the first radio performance in New Zealand of Brahms’ "Requiem" for chorus, soloists and orchestra, and this will be repeated on the following Tuesday evening. In addition, there will be the usual Sunday evening concert by the two orchestras from 8.0 p.m. to 8.45 p.m. * * * HYLLIS LAWSON who is to be soloist for the Brahms "Requiem" on March 16 and 18 from 2YA hails from Australia and was trained by one of Melbourne’s best-known teachers. Elsie Carnegie, who was one of Melba’s favourite pupils. Phyllis Lawson has a lyric soprano voice of fine range and has many notable performances to her credit-soloist in " Hiawatha" with the Melbourne Philharmonic Choir and the Symphony Orchestra under Professor Bernard Heinz, soloist at the Royal Victorian Liedertafel; and she has also given several recitals of her own in Melbourne. She was a member of the J. C. Williamson Gilbert and Sullivan Company, playing the leading role in "Wild Violets." Although this is practically her first broadcast in New Zealand, she has sung for many years from 3LO and 3AR, Melbourne, and was chosen out of 120 girls to become a permanent member of the Australian Broadcasting Commission staff. She has thus had the experience of doing grand operas and comic operas, and of being solo artist at several orchestral concerts for the ABC. * * ,* ‘THE WINTER JOURNEY " cycle of songs by Schubert, of which probably the best known is "The Linden Tree," will be sung by Vera Martin from 3YA on Friday, March 21. For the past 10 years this Christchurch contralto has been heard regularly from Dominion stations, She has specialised in classical songs and lieder, but while broadcasting from the NBS Exhibition Studio also included popular songs and ballads as the contralto soloist in the "Look and Listen" revue. She has been soloist for many of the musical societies, and while in Australia broadcast from 2BL. * * o* "Voices. in Harmony" feature which 2YA puts on every Monday night about 9.25 p.m. breaks new ground this week. Previously the programme presented chorus work by the Madison Singers, the Mastersingers, and others, but this week there are to be duets by the popular team from the movies, Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, whose items will include favourites from " Rose Marie" and from "Naughty Marietta." However, the following week the feature returns to chorus work with items by Doris ‘Arnold’s BBC team, known as the Kentucky Minstrels. "Voices in Harmony" is a programme to be watched. {