Special Christmas Broadcasts Arranged

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 22, 14 December 1928, Unnumbered Page

Special Christmas Broadcasts Arranged

The religious significance of Christmas will be reflected in a special series of broadcasts: « arranged for all stations at that pertod.

YA will commence its Christmas programmes on Tuesday, when the main feature of the eyening’s broadcast will consist of Handel’s "Messiah," as produced in the studio by Madame Irene Ainsley. Assisting her will be Miss Violet Harrison, Mr. Lambert Harvey and Mr. Arthur Colledge. There will be orchestral accompaniment. Solos which will be sung by the same artists will be "Nazareth," "My Task," "Star of Bethlehem,", and "The Gift." On Friday there will be another sacred concert, this time contributed by the St. Andrew’s Quartet, whose opening number will be "The First Nowell." They will also sing the carol "Good King Wenceslas." Other items will be excerpts from "The Messiah." A feature of Friday evening’s programme will be two Dickens sketches by Mr. T. Harris-‘EMbenezer Scrooge’ and "Sidney Carton’s Farewell." On Saturday evening a special Christmas musical programme will be relayed from the Auckland Baptist Tabernacle, where there will be a choir of 100 voices. The first half of the programme will be devoted to the rendition of old and new Christmas melodies, both voeal and instrumental. In the second portiou of the programme the Christmas cantata "Bethlehem" will be given. ‘The soloists will be Mrs. J. Litherland, Mr. Halsey Cox, Mr. ©. Turley, and Mr. Clinton Williams. The pianiste will be Mrs. T. Brame Clark, the organist and eonductor Mr. Arthur I. Wilson.

The sacred concert on Sunduy evening will also include some solos from ‘The Messiah." Lhe vocalists will be Miss Phyllis Hazell and Mr. Frank Sutherland, who will also sing two duets. Sunday Programme for 2¥A. Z RELAY of the evening service from Nt. ~ Thomas’s ‘nglican Church will be heard at 7 p.m. on Sunday, December 25, and at approximately 8.30 the choir of St. Mary of the Angels will give a splendid sacred concert. The main feature of this coneert will be a rendition of Gounod’s beautiful "Messe Solemnelle" ("St. Cecelia") by the choir, under the very «able conductorship of Signor A. P. Truda. The soloists will be Mrs. A. P. Truda (soprano), Mr. Samuel Duncan (tenor), and Messrs. Len Barnes and Staunton, baritunes. Mrs. G. P. A’.ridge will be organist, and Signor Cattaneo, pianist. In addition to this work Mrs. Truda and Mr. L. Staap, tenor, will sing the duet "Crucifix." and Mrs. IF. Treacy will sing Luzzi’s "Ave Maria." "Messiah" at 3YA. AT 83YA on Thursday, December 20, Handel’s magnificent oratorio, "Messiah." will be presented. This will be the special feature of the vvening’s programme, and it will oceupy the complete second half. Besides the vocalists. the choir of the Nast Belt Wesley Church under the conductorship of Mr. J. Chaplin, will be contributing. Some of the grand choruses for which the "Messiah" is noted will be sung. Among these may be mentioned the glorious "Wallelujah Chorus," .with which the programme for the c .ning will conclude. The soloists will be Zfadame Gower Burns (under whose direction will be the whole production), Mrs. Ann Harper, Mr. Harold Prescott. and Mr. Clive Hindle. The Studio Trio will provide the instrumental music.

Christmas caro!: will be a feature of this evening at 3YA. These will be sung by the Grand Opera ?uartet and by the Hast Belt Choir, the accompanist being Mr. P. Watson. Solos to be sung will be "Angels Ever B.ight and Fair" (from "T’-codora"}, by Madame Gower Burns, "Like as the Hart," by Mrs. Ann Harper, "If With All Your Hearts," by Mr. Harold Prescott. and Gounod’s "Nazareth," by Mr. Clive Hindle. Mrs. Ross Brodie at 3YA. (HE after-church studio concert at 3YA will also be a Christmastide one. In this will be appearing Mrs. Ross Brodie, of Rangitata. She has been specially engaged for this occasion, and music lovers can look forward to a treat from this fine singer, who appears in radio for the first time. It may be mentioned that Mrs. Ross -Brodie has been a pupil of Madame Gower Burns, Mr. H. M. Lund, and Mr. Hamilton Hodges. She now takes lessons from M. Paul Soldaigne, of Dunedin, late principal tenor of Boston and Antwerp Grand Opera Companies. M. Soldaigne is a Belgian and a great artist who settled in New Zealand after 2 professional visit to the Dominion some years ago. Mrs. Ross Brodie will sing "Largo," "He Shall Feed His Flock," and "Abide With Me." Assoviated with Mrs. Ross Brodie will be Madame Gower Burns and the popular tenor, Mr. Harold Prescott, one of the finest trained artists singing for radio. He wiil sing "How Vain is Man" and "Sound an Alarm," both from Handel’s "Judas Maccapaeus." Madame Gower Burns will sing "Oh, for the Wings of a Dove," "Hear My Prayer," and "Hear Ye, Israel." The evening church service will be relayed from the Anglican Cathedral. The organist and choirmaster will be Dr. J. C. Bradshaw, Mus.Doc.