PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2445, 26 April 1915, Page 7

PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA

FIRST WINTER CONCERT. The Wellington Professional Orchestra gave its initial concort of the 1915 season in His Majesty's Theatro last night before a largo audienco. The principal item on the programme was Verdi s Fantasia "Otello." This was the orchestra's first performance from Verdi's great music-drama, and though fairly successful (considering tho few, Opportunities the orchestra has for practice) it should hardly have been rendered without a few moro rehearsals. The work is a particularly interesting ono, and descriptivo of tho whole gamut of passion and feeling enveloping Shakespeare's' great tragedy. The orchestra, however, was very successful in l'riedemann's "Slavonio Rhapsody," probably because they are moro familiar with it from renditions at previous concerts." The number was tho most pleasing on the programme. Then again German's three melodious dances from Nell Gwynne wero pleasurably given. Of the throe dances—(l) "Country Dance"; ■ (2) "Pastoral Dauco"; (3) ".Merrymakers' Dance," the second was niost.charminglv and effectively rendered by the muted strings. Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance" march was given with somo success, though was not played, quite confidelitlv till the well-known "Land of Hope anii Glory" was reached. Tho popular "Barcarolle" of Offenbach's "Tales of Hoffmann" was also played and encored. * Mr, Moseiiini conducted in (he absence of Mr. Herbert Bloy.