ORCHESTRAL CONCERT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 258, 19 July 1918, Page 7

ORCHESTRAL CONCERT

*: FOE THE NAVY .'LEAGUE. All lovers of orchestral musio wilLTbjoico iu the fact that tho ..Wellington Orchestral Society, has been once' moro revived, and "with that joy will eouplo the hope (hat, under the new rogimo, tho musical. glories of ■ the past will be revived and sustained. : Wellington is in need of such an amateur society, if it is only to see the flamo of good orchestral music burning, after a long night of neKlect. Tho now society,.which has arisen from/the ashes of the old, made its appearance at .the Concert Chainbor 'last evening, and,,considering the disabilities that appear to* .bo almost insuperable in assembling a well-balanced orchestra, tho performance was full of promise. Tho programme, which was nicely arranged, opened with tho overture to Schubert's "drama with music," "Rosamundo," n very old favourite on account of tho I consummate grace in harmony and flowing molodies. The opening lo'tho overture was a trifle uncertain, but tho orchestra played witlr increasing. "confidence as the work. progressed, and the up-' plause which,, followed was thoroughly well deserved. With somewhat daring enterprise the orchestra also played BeeI thoven's Symphony (No.. 1) in C Major, aud, though there were weaknesses' apparent here arid there, lhe;v. succeeded in giving an acceptable rendition of this beautiful and quaintly diversified work. [ The second movement—cantnbile. con ; moto—always a favourite—was played I with a sustained smoothness that was do- [ lightfnl to hear,' whilst the speedy Minu- | etio (fourth movement), iiliva. .with colour and motion, gave litllo less pleasure. The semi-humorous opening of- the finale, played by- tho first strings, tickles thu fancy still as in days of yore, but is the prelude to a. very lino movement, which works up to an impressive- ending. Percy Fletcher's rural suite, ■'■■ -Woodland Pictures," iu three.movements, viz., "In tho Hnvfiolds," "An Old World Garden," and "Tho Dean -Feusl;" was a bright bit of pictorial music, in which llie composer has drawn some merry sketches of English country life' in happier times than tho present. Then the ballet (No. 1) from "fiosnniundo" (Schubert), was played with plenty of spirit, .and Padcrewski's "Voyageur" also pleased.. Finally the orchestra played the inlermazzo from "Cavalleria Rusticana" (Mascagni),which is becoming a trille shop-worn, and tho over-chnrniing "Naila" (Delibes) for muted strings. The orchestra. was assisted by two vocalists. Mr. Leu Barnes's robust and musical voice was heard in the recitative and aria "O Ruddier Than the Cherry" (from Handel's delightful cantata "Acis and Galatea"), u. number that without orchestra is riot too woll adapted to the modern concert platform, and is. best heard in its proper-setting. Mr. Barnes's reading of "Danny Deover," a musical, netting of.Rudynra Kipling's lugubrious verses, was, the finest exposition ><f dramatic vocalisation heard from an amateur in Wellington for a long time. Mr. Barnes senses the 6ceno .with fino artistry, and makes nhis ' hearers actually "feel" tho dreadful sceno in the Indian barrack-yard. He was loiidly acclaimed, and sang Omar's fino setting of Robert Louis Stevenson's gravestone lines under' the title of "Requiem." This also found such favour that ho was again recalled, ■when he sang the old English ballad "Drink to Mo Only." Miss Hazel Fuller, a promising soprano, sung "Lova is a. Bird." "Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal" -(Coulter), ."Despair" (Bemberg), and "Down in the Forest" (Landon Ronald). The. accompaniments were, played by Mr. Frank Thomas and Mrs,"jl. V.'. Morgan. The promoters are to bo congratulated on the illuminative character, of tho printed programme, wJiioh was sold in aid of the funds of the Navy> League, whoso funds, should, benefit sub- ' sliintially by tho concert.