PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 171, 14 April 1919, Page 6

PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA

A DELIGHTFUL CONCERT. There is perhaps no body doing as much genuine service for music and giving so much genuine pleasure in the doing of it than the Wellington Professional Orchestra, which cunmenced a new season at His Majesty's Theatre last evening. The orchestra is the one body which is keeping alive an interest in good orchestral music, and that, of course, means the best of music Although it is not so proficient in skilled leaders as w.e havo known it, the orchestra is a compact body, working well together under Air. 11. Moschini, and through him giving coherent expression in i.o ordinary measure to the liner nuances and subtleties of the music played. The programme opened last evening with the overture "Britannia" (by Sir Alex. M'KcnzieJ, a musicianly work, which scarcely achievos tho aim intended. Tho composer has worked on two central themes, viz,, "Rule Britannia" and the traditional Sailors' Hornpipe, and both melodies are suggested, with much contrapuntal subtlety, but only in a vague and vagrant manlier,, iu though the composer was bent on "camouflaging" the themes and.feared to find them discovered. The idea is used in the

"1812" symphony of Tschaikowsky very effectively and with excellent reason. In "Britannia," which was really well played, it left one cold and unsatisfied. There was plenty of compensation to follow Edward German's "Henry VIII" Dances, which will endure for ever, were genw of rustic melody that never fail to entrance the car. The Morris Dance ser tho whole audience swaying, and the extreme delicacy of treatment given to the Shepherd's Dance captured with its sensuous rhythm. The strings are to be commended for their playing in these dances. A "Madame Butterfly" fantasia, which takes in all the dominant themes that are woven into, the' dazzling fabric of Puccini's charming opera, tested the resources of the orchestra ' in heavier work, to find it ready for all demands. The brasses were particularly good nil through. The "Shoji" music, Butterfly's aria "One Pine Day," and the tragic music of tli6 finale of the opera were well represented in this fantasia. Another fine pitce of tpcotacular composition was Jlascagni's "Hymn to the Sun," from "Iris," written in a grandiose manner almost from the outset, and for that Teason it has Lttle in the way of contrast—it is all crisis.. Still it is 6et in a finely impressive mood, and was admirably played. dainty little "Serenade," for muted strings-, was played with a buoyancy and lightness altogether charming, and its repetition was eagerly demanded. Finally, the orchestra played Sydney Bainc's fine overture, "Endure to Conquer," in fine style.