MUNICIPAL ORCHESTRA.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1560, 2 October 1912, Page 5

MUNICIPAL ORCHESTRA.

THE "NUTCRACKER" SUITE,

Unfortunately for the good intention*, no doubt, of a hirgn number of people,-a bleak, squally, and most inopportune poiitherly followed upon n.beautiful spring at'toruoan, and its effect upon the musical enthusiasm of the- AYi'llinglon public was sufficiently demonstrated at the .Municipal Orchestra' , .'* concert in tlio Town Hall last evening. A. handful- of people in the gallery, ii fair gathering at- the back of the hall, and a sprinkling in front, constituted the extent of the audience which had tie privilege of listening to the excellent programme presented by Mr. Mau»han Barnett's Orchestra. Tho most interesting of the items, certainly that which was most enjoyed by the audience, was Tchaikovsky's, celebrated ' Nutcracker", suite—"Cat.-e Noisette" ballot" music which has attained Mich high popularity everywhere that it is alwap welcome as a programme number. The "Nutcracker" was first performed in "Wellington in 1599. by the. old "Wellington Orchestral Society. Q/ tho eight Indies which comprise the suite, tho "Dunce 01 tho Fairy," the "Arnbimi Dance, and the "Chinese D-anco" so delighted the audience that a bis was demanded and given. The linal item of the suite, the. quaintly beautiful "Val.-e ties Fleurs,, was also attractively played. ■ Beethoven s Fifth .Symphony (in , C -minor), the best known of tho "Immortal Nine, again figured on the programme, the beautiful "Andante Con Moto" an inspiring finale, being expressively played by tho band. Larimer's rousina "Marcbn Celebre, two characteristic Hungarian dances from Hie album of Brahms, and Jlascaems wellfrom "Cavalleria Kusticana,"' completed the orchestral part of tho programme. ■ Tjhc orcicstra was assisted by Mr. Courteney V. Mohr (baritone), whose items included the proloßue to' "I PBgbaccr (T-soncavallo), "Prince Ivans' Song (Allitsen), and two encore numbers-Noel Johnson's "Grey Day*;" and D Hardelot s "I Hid My Love." Mr. Courteney s numbers were tastefully and expressively siin» but in. the operatic Drologue, and "Prince Ivan's Song" a little more anvnnrion would have onha.necd the merit of his performance. Mr. Horace Hunt played the accompaniments.