WELLINGTON PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1576, 21 October 1912, Page 10

WELLINGTON PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA.

Over 3000 people packed themselves into tho Town Half last evening, and were rewarded by tho Wellington Professional Orchestra with a magnificent concert. The concert was a special effort by the Orchestra, who were honoured not only with an immense and thoroughly representative audience of Wellington citizens, but with vice-royalty, in. the person of Lady Islington (attended by Miss Staple-, ton-Cotton and Captain Macdougall, A.D.C.), and Parliament by the Minister for Finance (the Hon. James Allen) and from twenty to thirty members of tho House. Tho programme was of tho highest quality, and the performance set tho seal on the Professional Orchestra, ns.tho finest permanent body of the kind Wellington has known. AVaguor was represented by the wonderful overture to "Tannhauser," a great tone-poem, symbolising the conflict of "the world, the flesh, and the devil,' as represented by Tannhauscr's struggle to tear himself away from the sensuous joys of Venusberg and ally himself to a passing band of pilgrims on their way to liome—a master theme which the mighty Wagner has depicted with power and striking originality. "In Foreign Parts" (two movements—"Germany and "Hungary"), by Moszkowski, were thoroughly delightful sketches. "Germany is represented by a stream of tho purest melody, delicately orchestrated, and "Hungary" has a strong Czeck flavouring -lilting dance music, with characteristic intervals. Liszt's "Hlwpsodie (No. 2) was another number which captivated the audience, tho solemn grandeur of its porlentious opening being in striking contrast to tho radiant revel of light icatcbv melody which follows. Tho "Jlignou (Herald) overture is nlwnys acceptable- by reason of the inclusion of the famous polacco. Tho programme concluded with a stirring performance of Tschaikowsky.s great "1812" overture—a work of Titanic mould, majestically conceived and most ingeniously orchestrated, descriptive in the most vivid sense of tho word, and positively thrilling to all who cnuld conjure up tho picture of Nnpnlpoii s victory and defeat at Moscow. In this number the orchestra lins .llio assistance (in tho liniile) of some to members of tho AAcllingtdn City and Tramways Bands, who played tho "Russian National Hymn with remarkable elfect. To Mr. Herbert liloy as conductor is duo tho highest praise for the commanding breadth of treatment he shows in his work, and for the high pitch of excellence to which he lias brought.!ho orchestra, which is deserving of Hie citys whole-souled sympathy and support. That Sunday concerts where good music —and good music only—is played are doFired, tho great nudience, both in numbers and representation, very amply testified, and that we have players of high calibre 'willing to give their services "for a song' is equally uiauifeat iu tho existence of the