Charity Symphony Concert Season

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 39, 5 April 1935, Page 15

Charity Symphony Concert Season

Dunedin Will Have Its Share of First-rate Artists — Champion Cornet and Band Combination-‘Down With Crooners!"Newspaper Correspondents Air Views

LITTLE over a week ago a special concert organised by the New Zealand Broadcasting Board took place at Wellington, the proceeds being handed over to the city authorities for the relief.of distress fund. The board was responsible for several of these concerts last year, and the Wellington programme, it may be taken, was the forerunner of another. series to be held this year. As on former occasions. Dunedin will be very much in the limelight. in the matter of holding a celebrity concert, and steps are being taken now to arrange for 4 special entertainment to be given about the middle of May, the proceeds of which will be for the same worthy object as before, The impression made at the last concert, when Senia Chostiakoff and Madame Elsa Stralia scored distinct triumphs, and all receipt records in New Zealand were shattered, still remains with the Duendin public, which can be counted on at this early stage to give the next effort the support it deserves. ALTHOUGH there are a few weeks to go before the big concert date arrives, it is not: premature to let the public know a little about what is in store for them. Walter Kingsley, the English baritone, who is at present under engagement to the Broadcasting Board, will be featured in solo items, as also will be Lionello Cecil, who has already sung with success from 4YA. It is hoped that the two singers will also collaborate in duets. A champion cornet player from the West Coast, John Robertson, will also give his services on this occasion, and as his numbers will require band accompaniment. the St. Kilda Municipal Band, winners of the recent New Zealand contest held at Timaru, will be enlisted to fill the bill. Dunedin is proud of its champion band, and no doubt there will be many who will welcome the opportunity of hearing this combination playing with such a masterly soloist as Mr. Robertson. ‘ROONING has been receiving attention by listeners writing to the Dunedin Press of late. A Palmerston resident started the onslaught by saying: "I wonder if it is really my bad taste for music, and if I shall have a dearth of supporters, but I can no longer refrain from condemning crooning." He went on to complain bitterly that practically:every dance record played over the air consisted of one of these "dreadful crooning items." After that the writer did not conceal his feelings, and the next day, and the day after for that matter, his opponents rushed to the newspaper in defence of the crooner. Théy advanced all sorts of arguments in an attempt to justify the crooner, and were finally "sqnash-

ed" by the original letter writer, who had his "come back" on the following day. The correspondence caused no end of interest among listeners, who did not join in a general newspaper de-

bate, but openly confessed to one another that crooning was becoming too prevalent, and expressed the hope that some time soon crooners would cease to be heard on the radio.