PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 200, 13 May 1918, Page 7

PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA

- A FINE CONCERT. Wellington ie extremely fortunate in the possession of a musical organisation so enthusiastic- and efficient as- the Wellington Professional Orchestra. During the present stress it has been "doing its bit" to keep alive tho eoul of nnieio hero, and-doinij 60 with infinite credit to itself. This will be readily conceded by any who were present at the concert given in His Majesty's Theatre last even, ing. The well-sustained quality 02 tho orchestra's work last evening promises much for the season. If anything tho work has improved on last winter's nvernge form. The string tone seems firmer and brighter, and the bowing attractively uniform, and that throughout a gruelling evening's work. ' There is now a vury capable 'cello division, a nd the work of the wood winds and brass ires of a high standard throughout. The concert was a revelation; of what the orohestra could accomplish were it possible to rehearse a little more frequently thaa is the case. Tho programme, too, wae agreeably planned. \ It is now so seldom that we are able to hear the musip of the late> Sir Arthur Sullivan that it was a deep pleasure to have his •'Overture di Ballo. . a thoroughly characteristic composition, recalling in places the graceful rhythmical touches he used eo effectively in "Tho Gondoliers" for this ballet music, 'changing in form but slightly, after the graceful opening for strings, to a 'sustained cachuca of rare beauty Wl vitalising spirit. Two short pieces that pleased immensely were "Jours Passes" (Horno), n. broad, sweeping, slow movement, somewhat "churchy , - , in its harmonic structure. The other was tho evorpojralar "gavotte" from "Mignon" (Ambroiso Thomas), for strings, and, to a very restricted degree, wood winds. Tho "gavotte" w.as played with nico delicacy and feeling. For a long time past the works of "Papa" Haydn have boon a closed book -in Wellington. Hie abiding genius was capitally illustrated in the first movement of his "Military Symphony," a comnositiori of great melodic charm and musicianly strength. As tho opening to a work of military motif it breathed an atmosphere of peace, beautk 1 fully sketched in'bright-colours by th*. strings, broken at intervals with a twittering little trio by the flute, oboe, and clarinet, suggesting fancifully tho shepherd's pipe 3 played in pastures green, whilst the gorgon war is preliminarily heralded by the, menacing drums. Keen lovers of such good music would bo grateful to hear tho succeeding movements of the Symphony. "I Pagliacci," an epic in pnssion and tragedy, is always wolcomo. Leoncavallo's one outstanding opera never fails to make a profound appoal to tho emotions, and tho fantasia was satisfying in its comprehensiveness, and was interpreted with understanding by Mr. Moschini. In one extremely difficult passage tho violins struggled somewhat, and the tone becamo ombiirrassini;ly attenuated, but, the passage past, tnn tired orchestra pulled itself together and finished in good style. Speight's sketch (for strings only), "The Lonely Shepherd," is a weird composition—a delicate lacowork of the closest harmonies in which true pitch was necessary and .nut k all timee evident. 'J'lio iirograrmiio concluded with the line overture "Murituiia," splendidly played. Mr. H. Moschini is a capable conductor, absolutely freo from any omotional gesture, but one whose beat could never be misnnderstoud. His tempos were notably correct.