Haydn Bi-Centenary Festival

Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 11, 23 September 1932, Page 5

Haydn Bi-Centenary Festival

eee Relay by 2YA (Contributed. ) Cie Wellingt Sunday, September "MP5, Wellington is holding a festival which will extend throughout the following week te celebrate the’ birth of Franz Joseph Haydn (1782-1809), one of the greatest figures in musical history. A number of city churches are including in their evening services sacred music of Haydn that is rarely heard, and this should prove an excellent beginning to a festival that promises to be one of the most outstanding in the Dominion’s history of musical activities. The progravame of the four succeeding concerts, to be given on Monday 26, Wednesday 28, Thursday 29, and Saturday, October 1, have been arranged by the British Music Society aud should excite great interest by virtue of their novelty and the excellent list of contributing musicians, To give gdequately’ a festival of works of such

ones a man as Haydn, all the resources of our musical life are called upon, and consequently the programmes become so ‘wide and comprehensive in their scope that they must inevitably make an appeal to, the concert public. In different parts of Hurope for many months past festivals have been arranged to pay.tribute to this great man, and we are proud that New Zealand is not behind in honouring this immortal name. The festival committee (with its honorary organiser, John Bishop, and hon, secretary, Zell O’Kane) and the British Music Society deserve every congratulation for having brought about something of which we, as a Dominion, might be justly proud. Below is given a list of the programmes, and at a glance it can be seen that they cover the wide range of Haydn’s works. The first three concerts will be given in the Concert Chamber, the festival ending with the Royal Wellington Choral Union’s performance of "The Creation" on Saturday, October 1, in the Town Hall. The concert on Monday night, to be broadcast from 2YA, is one of the finest of the whole festival. The music of Haydn is most ideally suited for broadcasting, as its very lucidity and clearcut definition are the two qualities that. make for clear transmission and reception. The Symphony No. 2 is one of the most vigorous and gayest works for orchestra ; it is one that is in the repertoire of the finest orchestras of Europe. The ‘cello Concerto in O is not so well known as the Concerto in D, but it is a work of great beauty and charm, . its freshness making ready appeal. Haydn was at his’ happiest when writing for strings, and his quartets form one of the major branches of his work. Two of his string quartets appear in the festival programme, both of outstanding importance. The fine Imperial Mass in ©, with full chorus and four soloists, is a work rarely heard in its entirety. Haydn had the peasant’s naturally devout spirit, and this pervades the whole inspiring work. The Wednesday concert includes two groups of songs, a string quartet, a fine bracket of piano solos, a sonata for violin and piano, and a solo group for *cello, On Thursday night two symphonies will be given. The delightful No, 7 in C and the famous "Clock" Symphony. A male voice irio and an aria from "The Seasons" make up the vocal numbers. The Concerto for Violin and two dances in the costume of the period complete 2 very interesting programme. The "Creation" performance on Saturday finishes the week with a fitting climax, The soloists performing during the festival are:+-Miss ©. Ormiston, soprano; Miss H. Chudley, contralto; Mr. R. Hill, tenor; Mr. I. Thomas, bass. Mr. Gatheridge is the organist, and Miss R. G. Caigan the pianist, ~