PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1552, 23 September 1912, Page 5

PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA.

THE MAX BRUCH CONCERTO.

The Wellington Professional Orchestra is admitting with great strides. If anyone a couple pf years ago, say, hud suggested that it would bo playing the difficult Max Bruch "Concerto,"-with n vipit- - ing violinist, the idea would have been laughed at, for the simple reason that tho nork is fraught with immense difficulties which can only bo appreciated by those with a knowledge of what many concede to he second in musical importance only to the great Beethoven Concerto. Tho Orchestra, it should bo said, at once came through tho ordeal with flying colours. Under tho baton of Mr. Herbert Bloy, it rose finely to the occasion,, and gave a most intelligent reading of tho work, pkying with admirable reserve and delicacy tho beautiful tutti passages, and exhibiting sympathy in diversified approaches to the solo music, It was a rich treat to hear the number at all, but with Mr. Charles Schilsky (examiner for the Trinity College of Music, London) ns soloist, the result was really an education in tho highest-sphere of music. Mr. Schilsky is a player of exalted temperamental capacity, nervous and highly strung, but an artist to tho tips of his pliant fingers. He produces a very pure tone of moderate breadth, vibrant with (sympathy, and even in tho most tremendously energetic passages his liowing nnd fingoring were delightfully clean, and no note caught tho ear that was not absolutely true to pitch. In tho adagio movement, one of singular beauty, his violin sensed the emotion in a most appealing manner, and tho rushing ani-lniited-nnnlerfound nothing wanted. Tho solokt received an ovation from tho .crowded audience, and oh returning to bow. ho graciously shook Mr. Bloy's hand as a compliment to tho orchestra's fino effort.

Apart from tho Concerto, the programme was most interesting. It included tho stirring march from Berlioz's "Damnation de Fnust," Delibes'a extremely dainty and melodious pizzicato, "Sylvia," the "Mignon" (Ambroise Thomas) overture, which introduces tlio rythmically entrancing "Polucca," and ■> fantasia on airs from Offenbach's "Tales from Hoffmann," the,latest'of that composer's works which has recently seen a big revival all over tho world. The selection is well packed with those spirited melodies which set tho blood tingling and tho toes tapping, and includes the languorously seductive "Barcarolle," sung last week by Madame do Cisneros and Mr, Paul Dufnult.- The performance of the selection was enhanced by Mr. Moschini's brilliant work as solo clarinet and by the cornets which voiced tho barcarolle.