2YA Engages Brilliant Instrumentalists for Sunday Evenings

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 20, 2 December 1927, Unnumbered Page

2YA Engages Brilliant Instrumentalists for Sunday Evenings

A Great String Quartet Under Mr. George Ellwood

Listeners in general will be pleased to know that special arrangements are being made for the maintenance of concerts on Sunday evenings from 2YA of a high standard. Throughout the winter months listeners have specially enjoyed excellent concerts arranged by various bands and relayed from city halls. For the summer months a brilliant quartet of string instrumentalists has been secured, the personnel being Ava Symons (violin), Frieda Meier (violin), Frank Crowther (viola), George Ellwoed (cello).

MR. AMERY SUCCESSFULLY BROADCAST | FROM 2YA At very short notice 2YA was able, on Monday, to put the civic reception from the Town Hall in Wellington "on the air." The speakers on this interesting and historic occasion were His Worship the Mayor, Mr. G. A. Troup, the Hon. A. D. McLeod, Sir C. Skerrett, Chief Justice, and, in reply, the Hon. L. C. S. Amery himself. Mr.: Amery’s speech lasted half an hour and was of great interest. 3YA syccessfully rebrondcast 2YA’s effort. Again on Tuesday, 2YA broadcast the state dinner given to Mr. Amery.

The four instrumentalists who have been engaged for 2YA stand at the top of their profession in Wellington, and in combination will provide a basis of items for the Sunday evening concerts that will give those functions a standard of their own. For the past several months listeners have been made acquainted with the quality of two of these principals by the work of Mr. George Ellwood and Miss Ava ‘Symons in the Symons-Ellwood-Short _ trio, which has regularly performed from 2YA and given items of outstanding merit. The career and ability of both Miss Ava Symons and Mr. George Ellwood were outlined in full in our issue of October 14, and their performances have more than justified early predictions. The newcomers to the microphone are Mrs. Meier and Mr. Frank Crowther. Mrs. Meier has studied in New Zealand with Mr. Adolf Syenes, a distinguished Hungarian master, who was a pupil of Hubay, Professor of the Violin at Buda-Pesth Conservatorium, Well known in musical circles, and a popular figure on the concert platform, Mrs. Meier is recognised as one of Wellington’s most brilliant instrumentalists, and has commanded the approbation of both Press and public. Of her work on the platform it has been written: -‘‘She is a finished executant, who does not allow the evident possession of a susceptible temperament to unduly influence her when dealing with the works of the great composers for the violin, so that while her renderings are colourful and charming, they are reliably instructive. With perfect command of her bow in rapid arpeggio passages, she uses the ‘dancing bow’ with delicate success,

and the breadth and quality of her tone from the lower strings is une usual in a violiniste. Mrs. Meier has played for the Harmonic Society and is a leader of the Society of Musicians’ string quartet and the Wellington Orchestral Society and, as occasion requires, is soloist for the last-named society. Mr. Frank Crowther, the remaining member of the quartet, received his early training in Wellington and Dunedin. Showing great promise, he travelled for two years with the old Pollard Opera Company when that organisation was at jts zenith. During that time Mr. Crowther played in four different productions ranging from grand opera to pantomime, his all round musical ability enabling him to play violin, piano and viola as occasion demanded. He later became associated with vaudeville as musical director for the late P. R. Dix, and subsequently with John Fuller & Sons, with whom he is still associated. Prior to his recent world tour, Mr. Crowther was for four years conductor of the Wellington Professional Orchestra, succeeding Mr. Bloy and Mr. Moschini in that position. On his recent tour Mr. Crowther made a special point of hearing the world’s best orchestras, and to that end visited most of the famous opera houses. He heard several recitals given by the Lener String Quartet, which is considered by the critics to be the greatest combination of this kind in the world to-day. He also attended several performances of the Handel Festival, Covent Garden Opera House, and the Queen's Hall concerts. Probably Mr. Crowther is best known throughout New Zealand as an accompanist, and was recently heard over the air as accompanist for the Port Nicholson Silver Band. Under Mr. Ellwood’s direction the new quartet may be counted upon securing the special good-will and appreciation of listeners,