CHAMBER MUSIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 230, 27 September 1940, Page 3

CHAMBER MUSIC.

The outstanding performance at the Auckland Chamber Music Society s third concert of the season, held in the Lewis Eady Hall last evening, was that of the beautiful Adagio from Beethoven's String Quartet, No. 7, Op. 59, No. 1, in F Major. This work ia considered to contain some of the finest and most spontaneous music of Beethoven's middle period.

Mendelssohn's melodious String Quartet, No. 1, in E Flat, was another fine work, the best, known movement of which is probably the charming Cazonetta. These two quartets were played by Helen Gray, first violin; Moya Cooper-Smith, second violin; Lois Walla, viola; and Lalla Hemus, 'cello. With Amy Stevenson as second viola player, the same players gave a well-bal-anced performance of Dvoraks String Quintet in E Flat, in which a particularly lovely movement was the Larghetto. These three works, strongly contrasted in character, provided a most interesting and enjoyable recitaj. The performances throughout were marked by refinement of tone, tasteful interpretation, abundance of nuance and, for the most part, satisfactory intonation, while the balance of the ensembles was excellent. The audience expressed its appreciation by warm applause; also by the presentation of numerous bouquete to the players ifc-*b* «t tfee watd,