FAREWELL CONCERT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1749, 14 May 1913, Page 8

FAREWELL CONCERT.

TO MR. HORACE HUNT. Tho general esteem in which Jlr. Horace Hunt is held, combined with tho decided attractiveness of the programme, ensured a very large attendance of the public at the Town llall last evening, when a complimentary concert was tendered the departing pianist. The quality of the programme was beyond cavil, and the performance generally was on a high level of excellence, but it was regrettable that in the character of the items selected thero was not more variety. It may be that the thought of Mr. Hunt's early departure tinged his companions in the field of musical endeavour with the sadness that v;as unmistakeably reflected in most of last night's numbers. Tint effect was certainly conveyed to the audience, particularly in the second half of tho programme, in which occurred a rather dolorous "Adagio" (Popper), played by sombre-toned- 'colli (Jlr. and Mrs. F. Johnstone) and piano (Mrs. Montague), a sad song of "Autumn" by Bngleliardt, "A Song of Winter," and "Good Night," composed by Mr. Horace Hunt, and sung by Mr. Hamilton Hodges, and finally tho grief-laden "Wanderer" of Schubert (transcribed bv Liszt), sonorously played by Jlr. Hunt. This, however, did not exhaust the resources of the lengthy programme. An orchestra of somo thirty pieces, hastily got together by Mj\ Robert Parker, rendered valuable aid in several directions. It played tho placidly tuneful overture "ileinkehr aus dor Freimlo" (Mendelssohn) admirably under the circumstances, was- quite effective in the first movement of tho Beethoven "Concerto" (i" C minor), and supplied a delightful accompaniment to Miss Gertrudo Hunt's singing of Bishop's sweet old song, "Should Ho Upbraid." Mr. Hunt was at the top of his form in tho concerto, which he played with delicacy, precision, and great deal of expression. His execution and phrasing in the interpolated cadenza by Carl Rcinecke were factors in a brilliant bit of interpretive Work, which calls for sound musicianship ami technical resource. The young player distinctly deserved tho ovation which was promptly accorded him by tho discriminating audience. Iu tho Rubinstein "Staccato Study" he was associated on a second piano with Mr. Christian Helleniann, who iiad been called on at brief liotite to take Mr. Baxter Buckley's place. The duet was very nicely played, though a higher degree of unity was secured in tho encore of tho final passage. Mr. Hunt, was heard to advantage, too, in the Schubert-Liszt arrangement of "Tho Wanderer." As a writer of dainty songs, Mr. Hunt has a future. Two of his compositions were sung by Mr. Hamilton Hodges last evening. "A Song of Winter" demonstrated a delicacy of perception in wedding the music to the lyrics. Mr. Hodges was even moro successful in "Good-night," a sougtet instinct with poetic l'eeting, which the singer had to repeat. Mr. Hodges also sang "Mino Enemy" (Olga 11 udd), which suits his ultra-dramatic stylo well. One of tho gems or the evening was tho singing of the Orpheus Malo Quartet (Messrs. I'hipps, Fletcher. Allwright, and Hutton).' They sang "In Absenco" (Dudley Buck) charmingly, aud responded to an encore with Parry's hearty "Sailors' Chorus" ("Cydgau y. Morwyr"). The articulation, phrasing, aud iutlcction of this wellbalanced quartet is a treat to hear. Mr. C. 11. Stephens sang the two songlets "Autumn" and "Springtime" (C. Euglehardt) artistically, though tho singer would be heard to greater advantage in a smaller haft. Of the instrumentalists, Mr. Herbert Bloy was easily tho most successful. He selected the Andante and Fiualo movements irom Mendelssohn's "''Concerto in 11 Minor," aud played t'ho beautiful legato passage in tho former with rare sympathy. His masterly adroitness in the production of harmonics

and brisk pizzicato work was admirably illustrated in iho encore so clamorously demanded. Miss Agnes Segrief, wiio always sings artistically, was heard in Zardo's "To tho Angels," and "Downhill the Forest." Tho Wellington Professional Quartet (Misses Watkins and Dall and Messrs. Stephens and Bobbins) were sadly out of tunc in Ilaynes' pretty-quar-tet ''Sweet Vales of Devonin," and vocal sympathy w'as wanting. They were, a littlo better in "Strange Adventure (from "The. Yeoman Df tho Guard ). but here tho tempo ■ was slightly at fault. Generally, the concert was a notable one, and with such an assemblage of talent, a real compliment to Mr. Hunt. iho accompaniments were played by dames Bloy, Montague, Stephens, and Mr. Horace Hunt.