INSTRUMENTAL CONCERT.

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 206, 26 May 1919, Page 2

INSTRUMENTAL CONCERT.

Sunday cpneorts of the type given at tho Grand Opera House last evening are ail too rare in Wellington. There has, of late, been evidont a tendency to make tho Sunday concert programme in no ivav dissimilar to those given on a week night, a trend that should be checked. The programme submitted last evening was refined and elevating, and its performance.was satisfying.to lovers of good music. Haydn Beck is known in Wellington, as a violinist of promise. His technical ec[uipuiei-.t is beyond question, and his bis; rich tones fill the whole of the theatre.' Hβ has yet, however, to cultivate that subtle eonse of soul that i 3, so necessary to complete success in a vi6liuist. Haydn Beck showed his technical resource in Paganini's transcription of Rossini's "Moses Fantasia," which is set for tho G string only, and provides 'some'pretty problems in fingering. It was on the whole well played, after a little unsteadiness of tone in some of the earlier harmonic passages. The violinist was at his best, in .Viouxtemps'

"Ronclhio" and tho beautiful "Indian Lament" (Dvorak-Kraisler). His tone was sweet and true, to, in the familiar Mascagni "Intermezzo," delightfully played as a trio. Harold Bock, a brother of the. violinist, created an entirely favourable impression as a 'cellist. He bows stylishly, and produces a rich, sonorous tone throughout (he instrument. He played' Saint Saens's "Le G'ygne" attractively, Popper's ■ "Harlequin,", and "Variations Syraphonique," oMioellmr.mi, with Mr. Harold Whittle (whose accompaniments were a feature of the concert), the 'brothers Beck plaved Brahms. "Hungarian Dance" (in D),

"Anita's Dance" from Greig's "Peer Gvnt" Suite, "Warum" (Why?) of: Schumann, and "Les Bons Vieux" ; (Banes) in one bracket, and the "inter- j mezzo" and EachnianinofFs "Prelude in , C Sharp Minor" in another. The lal-; ter was particularly effective in trio form. Mr. I.en Barnes, the well-known baritone, sang a somewhat dolorous ballad. "When tho King AVent Forth to War" (Kooiiemaiin), which wns liftod '. out of the commonplace by a etriking ! aceompiinimcnt. A better soiig bntter' | sung was Coleridge Taylor's "Sons of the Kea." and, when recalled, Laiidon Donald's" "Down in the Forest."