ORCHESTRAL CONCERT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3047, 7 April 1917, Page 3

ORCHESTRAL CONCERT

PROFESSIONALS' 'FINE Pl'-O- ----... .GRAMME, •Those who love good music could scarcely have wished for a better windup to Good Friday than the concert arrangedl by the Wellington Professional Orohestra, and it is. to be toped that opportunities other than the scheduled ! Sunday evenings will -be seized upon to give the public that sure and certain treat which w.as the happy lot. of the very large audience present at. His Majesty's Theatre last evening. The Orchestra is scarcely so strong numerically as it has been,'owing doubtless to the call to arms, and now and then there were occasions': when one would have liked to hear o, fuller tone in the strings, but' otherwise the .band is pretty well balanced, and .the.finish that generally characterised th 9 playing, of most of the numbers was surprising when the' conditions are known and appreciated.: The programme was an exceptionally at-. : tractive ' one. The " "Raymond" overture. (Thomas), • .with (its infectious rhythms, bold "colouring,' antl glowing melodies, is always popular, and was delightfully played. Mascagni, known as a "one opera man, has really written many, but none have achieved anything like the fame of "Cavalleria." One of his least-known works is "William . Ratcliffe," from which opera the Orchestra played "The Dream," a very sombre-hued passage, fully _ and gracefully orchestrated, but leaving no memories ' behind. How different was the "Angelus," from Massenefs charming "Scenes Pittcjesque?" This is an orchestral gem that breathes the' purest spirit of devotion, persuasively reminding one in the soft chiming of the bells, and the faintly-heard chanting of the well-known picture, "The Angelus." The number is delicately atmospheric, with an old-world reverence impregnating every bar. It offers some pretty work for the clarionets, oboe, and flutes, and very beautifully was. it played.•• The oboe eoloist (Mr. Charles Norman) has his chance in the charming "Love Song.", l by Taubert, in w.hichan arresting little melody is played pizzicato by the strings, and, then as an oboe- solo, most daintily accompanied. The Orchestra also played' two. of .'Brahms's - Hungarian Dances, in which the conductor (Mr. Herbert BlbyKtook full advantage of permissible contrasts in tempo, and. the result was wholly entrancing. A suite new to' Wellington was ."The Flower Suite," of Benyon, of which three numbers nere played. The-musio is light and pretty in a popular sense. The "Dance of the. Pansies" is distinguished by a lovely melody, and the "Dance of the Daisies" is a lively jig with interesting relief, in a slower tempo., Last of all was, Ts'chaikowsky's'-weird but fascinating "March Slav," a curiously gripping and altogether bizarre composition that calls for an orchestra at least twice as strong as the Professionals can' muster. The soloist of the evening was Mr; Hamilton Hodges, who selected ' two solos from "The Messiah," namely, the recitative and aria. "Thus Snith the Lord" and "But Who May Abide," and "Why Do the Nations?" Though lacking in mnsical quality, Mr. Hodges, declaimed 'both numbers with a biting vehemence that was jnst n little theatrical. On both-occasions the-singer was soundly applauded. The orchestral accompaniment v;as fairly satisfactory. Mr. Blov,- who conducted with characteristic placidity., is *ob» congratulated on tho high level of pffieiencv the orchestra showed, and for his .intpvesHiig readings. It augurs well for the Orchestra's coming reason, which commences to-morrow week at His Majesty's; ■