PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA'S CONCERT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2463, 17 May 1915, Page 3

PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA'S CONCERT

Every seat in His Majesty's Theatre was occupied last evening when the Wellington Professional Orchestra gave its second concert of the- season. Among those present was the President of the orohestra, the Hon. A. L. Herdman. It was gratifying to witness so large an audienco present. It indicated that the Sunday night concert. fills a real musical need in the community. It is faint praise to say that tho concert was merely enjoyed and that the number of people who left the theatre before the final bar of the last selection could be counted on tho fingers of one hand. As a matter of fact the performance was a most oreditable one throughout; aiid though little that was now was submitted, the unanimity and certitude with. which they played those pieces the orchestra has helped to make familiar, oombined with the fine tonal quality and balance, made the performance a rare delight. Perfection one can scarcely expect—some of the leads could be strengthened with advantage—but on the whole the effect was pleasing, and the rough places few and far between. The one new number was the Prelude to "Siberia," an opera by a little known Italian composer, Giordano. It in a gloomy fragment, pregnant with the groans and wailings of convicts parting from their loved ones on the border of Russia and Siberia. Commencing with low mutterings from the double basses and bassoon, the dull dolour is rent by weird chromatic runs down the scale on the strings, the cries of the afflicted wives and friends who are about to depart from their best beloved. Queer discords and queerer orchestration supply a wealth of shuddering misery with never a pure ray of clear melody to stay the hand of impending Fate. _ The Preludo is a gruesome, bit of musio which need not be repeated without provocation. There was, however, plenty of bright relief. There is a fine dash and jingle about von Suppo's overture "Pique Dame," w J hich is written in tho merriest mcod by that volatile Frenchman; tho Bccclierini "Minuet" (for united strings) retains its "lavender and old lace" character, and was very delicately played. Mathe's "Pizzicato" is not an inspired composition, and the plucking was slightly laboured here and there. The "Faust" fantasia was a sheer delight, and was played with plenty of verve and brightness; the "Ruy Bias" (Mendelssohn) overture is fraught with difficulty, but was interpreted and played witli freedom and colour. Mr. W. H. Bowman played Schubert's "Serenado" (with an orchestral setting) as a cornet solo, infusing into tho cold beauty of tho melody a nice vein of sympathy. In the absence of Mr. Herbert Bloy, tho orchestra was conducted by Mr. H. .Alosrliini, who has a clean, decisive t, and, whilst taking up liberties in interpretation, commands with confidence. Mr. John Garry, as leader, wiis a. decided strength to the orchestra. The next concert will bo given oil June 13,