TSCHAIKOWSKY'S "1812."

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1819, 4 August 1913, Page 4

TSCHAIKOWSKY'S "1812."

WAR PICTURE IN MUSIC. The set of chimes to bo used in thfl performance of Tschaikowsky's groat overture "1812" at the complimentary concort to be tendered to Mr. Herbert Bloy at the Town Ilall to-morrow evening have been kindly lent by Mr, Henry Brett, of Auckland. Those who know "1812" "will have Stirring memories of the gloriously chaotic music which depicts the attack of Napoleon's army on Moscow, tli-o victory, tiie firing of tho city by the Russians, and t,ho retreat of the French army. When tho overture i( played at the Queen's Hall, London, Sir Henry Wood does not scruple to two all manner of "effects" to paint the picture. Ho ling a largo frame-work fitted with all kinds of fireworks, and at a given one— representing tho clash of two armies— these are fired, and tho effect of tho crackers and single and doublo "bangers," amidst the rolling of half-a-dozen drums, and tho din of martial music—fugitive trumpct-caUs, odd bars of tho "Marseillaise," and a stave or two of tho Russian' National Anthem—all make up an exhilarating din stirringly representative of the pomp and circumstance of war. Madame Mary Conly, .it present in Wellington, under engagement to tho lioynl Wellington Choral Society, relates nil incident which occurred ill this connection. She was programmed to follow "1812," but. when she reached tho platform the air was so heavy with sulplnir from/the fireworks that sho could only cough arid retire. Then the next artist —the tenor—made bold to fill the breach, but ho oracked up badly, and had to bent a retreat, and in tho end the curtain had to bo rung down. Now "1812" is always placed last on tho programme when charcoal and sulphur efTccts ara used.