CONCERT TO MR. BLOY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1821, 6 August 1913, Page 9

CONCERT TO MR. BLOY.

TOWN HALL PACKED. The Wellington public is always re- | spousive to Any call made in a (Iteming cause. This was onco moro inado bountifully plain last evening, in connection with the complimentary concert tendered to Mr. Herbort Bloy by the Wellington Professional Orchestra. The Town Hall was filled, among those present being his Excellency Iho Governor, the Eari of Liverpool, tho Hon. A. L. Herdman, M.l\, and his Worship the Mayor ftiul Mrs. Luke. Those who attended were rewarded with a really first-class orchestral concert according to New Zealand Standards, particularly when consideration is given to the 'difficulties in the way of assembling a large body of the best instrumentalists available, and. to those responsible for the. arrangement of sueh a programme the greatest credit is due. ■ Apart from the compliment paid to Mr. Bloy, the concert 6erved a fine purpose in impressing on the public what an admirable musical combination the city possesses in the Wellington Professional Orchestra, and, further, tho uplifting musical influence which its existence must mean. Special mention is undoubtedly due to Mr. Christian Hellemann (who has ' lately succeeded Mr. Bloy as conductor) for tho manner in which, he has thrown himself into the work, and the artistic discrimination with which he wields tho baton. The programme was an ambitious one. It included the overture to Weber's opera "Oberon," a notably fine pieco of orchestral music, with brilliant snatches' of graceful melody, and a vigorously written and ingeniously orchestrated passage .reflecting the chorus of tho spirits of the storm; ' the charming "Praeludium" of Jarnefeldt; tho trio, "Dreigesprach" (Hamm), played by Mr. A. P. Truda (flute), Mr. L. Cohen (oboo), and Mr. H. Moschini (clarinet), to an orchestral ncoompaniment; a coinprehonsivo and well-arranged fantasia on Gounod's ."Faust," Liszt's great "Ehapsodie" (No. 2), and T9chaikovsky's overture. "1812." Tho "Bhapsodie," with its brilliant contrasts, ranging from passages of deep solemnity to tho wildest of Hungarian danco lilts, is always welcome, and, though it has been played with a finer regard to nuanco by tho Professional Orchestra, last evening's performance was highly acceptable. It was in the great Tschaikovsky overture (written by order of the Tsar) that the (orchestra rose away abovo tho commonplace. The theme of Napoleon's march oil Moscow and back from it to the Jiiemen, as treated by tho composer, is an inspiring ono, and its stirring spirit never fails to induce the best efforts of tho performers. It certainly did so last evening. ■ Tho overture - is flamboyantly descriptive. It begins with an impressivo Greek hymn tune, depicting the quiet religious faith in the unconqucrableness of Kussian arms, which is rudely broken into by tho roar of cannon, and tho maddenly whirl of battle —the roll of drums, the shrill calls of bugles, and vagrant snatches of ' "The Maraullaise," mingling with a weird Slavonic countor melody, and-finally the joyous clamour of the Ilussian host at the retreat of tho French depicted, in grandiose style, by heavy brass, and the musical clanging of tho bells. Such is the picture ns presented to the imagination, that it stirs tho emotions as perhaps no other'orchestral piece ever written. It contains all the elements of popular appeal, and, last evening, created an ovation which merged into cheers, and the finale of the overture had to be repeated. In this number tho orchestra was assisted by the City and Tramway Bands, which acquitted themselves witn great credit. : 'l'ho "Faust" overture was also played with delightful verve and facility. Mr. Frank Johnstone contributed a "Cantabile" by Cui in his usual finished style. > The orchestral accompaniment was .inclined to be slightly overpowering on occasions in this number. Mrs. J; F. Woodward, the only lady vocalist, and the possessor of a sweet, though somewhat light soprano, was heard in Arditi's captivating waltz song, "Se Saran Bose," which, she treated delicately, and with nico expression. The singer was handicapped by nervousness at her first essay, and was more at easo vocally when'Mlled'supon 1 to-repeat the solo. An old fav6urit<? was produced by" Mr. John Prousc; the cultured baritone, in ."o,"'Ruddier than the Cherry," from Handel's cantata "Acis and Galatea." : It was'sung with fairly good effect to a' capitally played orchestral accompaniment. The Orpheus Quartet (Messrs. 11. Phipps, H. N. Fletcher, E. S. Allwright, and S. N. Hutton) sang the unaccompanied part-songs, "Kathleen Mavourneen" and "Afton. Water," artistically. The blend, and balance of the voiccs was ' remarkably good, and th 6 interpretation of each song was marked by intelligence. It is understood that there will be a very substantial sum to be handed over to Mr. Bloy as the result of the concert.