WESTMINSTER GLEE SINGERS UNIQUE ENTERTAINMENT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 215, 11 October 1929, Page 2

WESTMINSTER GLEE SINGERS UNIQUE ENTERTAINMENT.

Organised by Edward Branscombe i'or an Empire tour theN Y\ estminster Glec Singers, a remarkable coinbina-tio-i of hoys and meii, hailing from some of England's most celebrated cati.edral ciioirs, are tounng New Zealand under tlie direction of Henry Hayward and will he lieard in Napier in a great variety of accompanied and unaccompanied vocal music, botli sacred and secular, at the Municipal Theatre on Tuesday next when two performances will he given, afternoon and evening. The adults include Edward Branscombe, l'or ten years tenor soloist at Vestminster Abbey; Charles O'Connor, tlie eniinent lrish tenor aud harpist,- Ernest McKinlay, tlie New 011 Tuesday next, when two performin Canada; Donald Reid, alto from YYestminster Abbey- YYilliam Lowry, alto from Christchurch Cathedral, (Eng.); James Barker, celebrated Scottish basso ; Charles Draper, operatic exhibitioner ot Royal College of Music, London, Albert G. Greetie, from London Opera House. There ari six youtliful fiongsters with the party, all l'roiii leading cathedral choirs, their nanies being, Douglas Bartrip, one of tlie finest boy soloists in the Old Country; Vincent Petley, Harry Fearn, Norman Clarke, Alan Goodered, Sidney YYTalls. The training of these boys is of sueli a nature and extends over sucli a long period, that they are really experienced professional vocalists. Most cathedral choirs in Great Britain liave no less than fourteen services per week and often with daily reliearsals, so it is no wonder that sucli an extraordinary pifcch of excellence is reaclied in these young choristers. The programmes presented, wliich, hy the way are clianged nightly by Mr Branscombe to satisfy all musical tastes, embrace sacred and secular music, including anthems, part songs, madrigals, glees, national airs, solos, duets, vocal dances, sailor slianties, humorous quartets and ciuaint s'ong scenas, all presented in elnborate and artistic stage settings. Only the two performances will be given in Napier and the hox plans open to-morrow morning at Howe Bros. Headmasters will note tlie eoncessions offered to pupils from schools and colleges for the special matinee which will commence at 3.30.