Brentwood College School - Brentonian Yearbook (Mill Bay, British Columbia Canada)

Page 14 text:

Brentwood College Magazine It would be extremely difficult to extol the respective virtues of each group of numbers as they were performed. The Bach chorale, The Son of God, and the Chopin numbers having a powerful appeal; while the satisfying rendition of the better known Beethoven Sonata (Moonlight) met with a generous approval. The Russian group found the artist in his most discrimin- ating element. Here, we felt, was a mode very dear to his heart; one loved and thoroughly understood. The playing of the Anton Rubenstein Funeral March seemed in every sense a dedication. The thunderous ovation which rewarded his final encore bore testimony to the intense gratitude of the audience for the very satisfying musical feast Mr. Cherniavsky had offered. The complete programme was as follows: — I. Gavotte in E major Bach-Saint Saens Easter Cantata (The Son of God) Bach-Rummel Minuet Stavenhagen Sonata in C sharp minor (Moonlight) Beethoven II. Two Mazurkas Chopin Waltz in E minor Chopin Polonaise in B flat minor Chopin Scherzo in B flat major Chopin III. Three preludes Shostakovitch The Village by the Stream Polovinkin Funeral March . Anton Rubinstein Prelude in D minor Anton Rubinstein Early in the Lent term we were privileged to spend an afternoon with the ballet. Never before had the Ballet Russe been to Vancouver Island and the Royal Victoria Theatre was entirely sold out for both performances. A clever combination of the classic and the modern in ballet was presented. Worthy of particular note being Ghost Town, a modern ballet which received its Canadian premiere at the afternoon performance. As the season wore on, the small band of music lovers was being slowly augmented; however, when Alec Templeton, versatile blind pianist and radio artist, visited Victoria, the entire school with but few exceptions, sallied thence for one of the most delightful evenings of musical entertainment the current season had offered. The best tribute to this great artist was the fact that no one was disappointed, however discriminating or not he may have been. On the occasion of the appearance of the noted Canadian actor, Raymond Massey, in the role of Abraham Lincoln in Robt. Sherwood ' s play of the same name; the school again turned out in almost full force. Very few of us had ever seen a first-rate exhibition of the legitimate stage and were impressed beyond words by the moving drama which was so convincingly enacted before us. It was a truly memorable performance. [Page Twelve]

Page 13 text:

Brentwood College Magazine Music Memoranda IT may be a long time before we fully appreciate the highlights of the past musical season. Through the year, we literally moved through the whole gamut of artistic repertoire. Classic performances of music, ballet, drama and mime, following in rapid succession. Starting the season, a rather small but select group of music lovers first journeyed to Victoria to hear Rose Bampton, Metropolitan Soprano, who had captured our hearts on a previous occasion with her charm of personality and splendid talent. On the same programme with her was the youthful violin prodigy, Ossie Renardy. The concert was easily up to our expectations. The appearance in Victoria, after a lapse of six years, of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra was met with genuine enthusiasm from every quarter. Three factors were largely responsible for the wide appeal; it was the first organized concert in aid of the Red Cross Society; the presence of Sir Ernest MacMillan on the podium as guest conductor; and the return to Victoria (her home town) of Madame Gertrude Huntly-Greene, noted Canadian woman pianist. The combined efforts of orchestra and pianist in the Mozart concerto in E flat major left nothing to be desired by anyone. It was perfectly delightful music, superbly played. The Hart House String Quartette gave the next scheduled performance Following an absence of three years, the members of the quartet received a tumultuous welcome when they appeared in the ballroom of the Empress Hotel. With Arthur Benjamin, eminent English pianist and composer at the piano, the quartet played the plaintive Death and the Maiden quintette by Robert Schumann. The piece de resistance of the Christmas term came on Monday evening, December 4th, when, conforming to the policy established a year ago, Mr. Bott successfully arranged a major musical event for presentation at the College in aid of the Curtis-Hope Memorial Organ Fund. In the appearance of Mr. Jan Cherniavsky, internationally known pianist, the previous standard of musical entertainment was appreciably improved. Mr. Cherniavsky being no stranger to Victoria audiences, the concert was largely attended by the music-loving public of the city, despite the thick pall of fog which descended upon the district a few hours before the recital was scheduled to commence. Always in excellent form at the piano, the programme chosen by Mr. Cherniavsky revealed a careful attention to musical detail; brilliant and under- standing pianism; and a flawless technique. [Page Eleven |

Page 15 text:

Brentwood College Magazine For many years more than any of us can remember, the name of Ruth Draper has been synonymous with high-class entertainment in the art of mime; the most exacting of all the aesthetic achievements. In our uninitiated state, we were wholly unprepared for the captivating charm of this type of art. Miss Draper ' s characterizations and impersonations subtly combined the tragic with the whimsical and humourous; satisfying even the least artistic amongst us. These notes would hardly be complete without reference to three excellently produced plays which we saw at the Brentwood Women ' s Institute Hall. The St. Stephen ' s Parish Players ' outstanding performance of Priestley ' s clever play, Laburnum Grove ; the Red Cross Players ' production of Midsummer Night ' s Dream ; and the Victoria Little Theatre presentation of the familiar School for Scandal, each received well merited attention. i i i VALETE— 1940 A. S. DENNISON — Head of the School; Captain of Rowing; Senior Matriculation. G. M. WILBY — Prefect; Senior Matriculation. W. M. CLIST — Prefect: Chapel Warden; Junior Matriculation. E. J. FOOT — Prefect; Captain of Badminton; 1st XV.; Junior Matriculation. J. MARTIN — House Prefect; Captain of Squash; 1st XV.; 1st XL; Junior Matriculation. A. R. MACDONALD — House Prefect; 1st XV.: 1st XL; Junior Matriculation. W. E. WIEBENSON — Captain of Tennis; Junior Matriculation. J. F. WOODCROFT — Junior Matriculation. J. K. WATSON — Librarian; Junior Matriculation. D. C. TODD — Junior Matriculation. G. G. SVEINSON — Junior Matriculation. E. KEATE— Grade XI. M. LYNCH— Grade XL J. McCALLUM— Grade X. i i i VALETE— 1939 P. K. HANBURY — Junior Matriculation. J. GREER— Grade XL E. DENTON— Grade XL R. R. POOLEY — Grade XL J. FRASER — Captain of Colt XV.; Grade IX. C. H. WILLS— Grade IX. D. M. HETT— Grade IX. [Page Thirteen]