120 Ch'ch Singers Go To Dunedin

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 44, 10 May 1935, Page 20

120 Ch'ch Singers Go To Dunedin

Harmonic Society’s Choir Gives Splendid Concert in. Dunedin Town Hall — Celebrities For Charity . Concert — Talent From Westland-Charles Buckett’s Talks from 3ZM.

"PHE Christchurch Harmonic Society's first concerts: for 1985 are being given on Thursday and Friday, a portion of which will be broadcast by 3YA. This society recently made musical history by taking its choir of 120 people to Dunedin, and there giving a concert to un audience of more than 2000 people in the Dunedin Town Hall. ‘The programme is essentially a. popular one. It will be remembered that twelve months ago the Harmonic Society produced for the first time in the southern hemisphere Constant Lambert’s remarkable modern work, "Rio Grande." In response to many requests, the conductor, Mr. V. C, Peters, has agreed to repeat this epic work, and at great, expense the music has been hired again from London, where it was. returned after last year’s performance, Two other numbers which haye been freely declared to-be the greatest choruses ever sung by the society will be repeated, Bach’s "Sanctus" and "Cum Sancto Spiritu"’ from the B Minor Mass. The new works will include choruses from Vaughan Williams’s "In Windsor Forest," and operatic choruses hy Handel, while an ever-popular work done some years ago-Elgar’s "Bavarinn Highlands" suite-has been procured from Auckland. The soloists will be the Misses Bucklin, brilliant American instrumentalists, daughters of the American Consul-General at Wellingfon; Mr, Frederick Page, the young

Christchurch pianist, who is about to leave for England to continue his studies: and Mr. Claude O’Hagen, the popular baritone, RRANGEMENTS have been completed for the Broadcasting Board’s econcert in St. James Theatre, Christchureh, on May 14, iu aid of the Mayor’s Distress Fund. This celebrity concert will be broadeast by 8YA, and in the past a substantial proportion of the amount raised has been given by listeners. All the artists are widely known. and the box plan will open this week at the nominal prices of 2/- and 1/-. WESTLAND ean claim the honour of having produeed some really clever musicians and singers, and not a few of them have succeeded in annexing high honours throughout New Zealand for their performances, A young West Coast girl, Miss Zeta Mun-

son, who has been acclaimed by. crities as a brilliant. pianiste, will be heard (rom 3YA on Friday, May 17: ME. CHARLES BUCKETT is giving a series of talks from 8ZM. Christchurch, on "Training for the Athlete," and his first talk was broadcast last Tuesday evening. These talks are most appropriate at the present time, and as Mr. Buckett is a physical culture expert, budding footballers should derive much benefit from his advice. Mr. Bucekett has a physical culture school, and his pupils have given many displays in Christchurch, the director himself holding the endurance test for club swinging. He not only swings clubs but has given exhibitions of sword and torch swinging, and he has several times trained the Canterbury representative footballers prior to their big matches. YA has decided to give listeners an opportunity of realising just how rich the city is in chamber music artists. On May 20, from 3YA, three brilliant instrumental musicians will be heard in Brahms C Major Trio. Mr, Ernest Jenner will be at the piano, Miss Gladys Vincent, violin, and Mr. Francis Bate. ‘cello. The best artists in the musical world have been heard in recordings during this session, but every now and then the programme will he given by: local artists.

PROFESSOR J. SHELLEY gave a short talk prior to the first concert of its 75th anniversary year of the Royal Christchurch Musical Society last Tuesday night. The talk was in the nature of an introduction of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s choral work, ‘"Hiawatha," and the concert was given under the baton of Mr. A, G. Thompson, who has proved such a capable conductor, and in addition is a very artistic singer. ‘The soloists were Miss Cicely Audibert, Mr. Ernest Rogers and. Mr. James Wilson. HE exact figure for the increase in radio licenses in Canterbury for the year ending March 81 was 4000. During last. month 903 new licenses were issued. (SHRISTCHURCH can boast some very brilliant pianists, and those who listened to Mr. Ernest Empson’s recital recently from 8YA can bear out this statement. This was Mr. Emp-> son’s first appearance before the microphone, and it is hoped that he will soon be persuaded to give listeners a further proof of his artistry. THE welcome to their Excellencies, Lord and Lady Galway. last week in Christchurch was spontaneous, They have certainlv made themselves very

popular by their friendliness, and the huge crowd present gave them a rousing welcome. Lady Galway was presented with a bouquet by the Mayoress, Mrs. D..G. Sullivan, her husband reading and presenting the address of welcome. The speakers were Mr. BE. J. Howard, M.P., chairman of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, and Mr. W. H. Nicholson, president of the Canterbury A. and P. Association. representing the country _ residents. 83YA broadcast the ceremony,