CHAMBER MUSIC RECITAL

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27396, 8 July 1954, Page 14

CHAMBER MUSIC RECITAL

Enjoyable Playing By

Rosner Ensemble

The third concert of the Christchurch Chamber Music Society was given in the Canterbury University College Hall last evening. The players were the Rosner Chamber Music Ensemble, consisting of Francis Rosner and Antoni Bonetti (violinists), Eric Lawson (viola), Molly Wright (’cello), J. van Gellekom (double bass), Ken Wilson (clarinet), Robert Girvan (bassoon), and Peter Glen (horn). All are members of the National Orchestra. This special work which they are undertaking as an ensemble will greatly assist the rapidly-grow-ing and vigorous chamber music societies throughout the country. As has always been the case with concerts given by the Christchurch Chamber Music Society, the programme was of a high standard. Bach’s Contrapunctus No. 4 (from the “Art of Fugue”) was followed by an arrangement of his organ Chorale Prelude, “Before Thy Throne I Now Appear,” and Dvorak’s Quintet in G major, Op. 77. These works were played by the strings. After a short interval, the whole ensemble played Schubert’s Octet Op. 166 in F. In spite of the wet and cold weather, there was a large audience.

The two Bach works were played with beautiful tone, very good balance, and stylish interpretation. Technically, they were the most polished performances of the evening. The various melodic strands each had their own character given out by careful phrasing and by nicely-judged tonal quality. Such works create a most satisfying atmosphere. The Dvorak work would rank well down on a list of / one’s favourite chamber music compositions, but it was played with sensitive understanding. The balance was not always quite satisfactory, and there were occasions when the tone sounded rather harsh. The Schubert Octet is one of the great works of its kind, and last evening’s interpretation of it was indeed praiseworthy. The balance was very good, and the intricate details of the work came forth with admirable clarity. It was a strong reading quite rousing in its climaxes, and with delicate finesse in its lyrical passages. As can well be imagined, it is not often possible here to assemble the instrumentalists capable of performing this work, and the members of the Chamber Music Society may well be grateful to these players who spared the time out of their very busy lives to give such pleasure to their listeners —C.F.B.