ORCHESTRAL CONCERT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 264, 4 August 1919, Page 11

ORCHESTRAL CONCERT

A DELECTABLE .PROGRAMME,

After the very admirablo performance of a stiff programme.of a wide variety of music before a crowded house at His Majesty's Thatre last evening, many will be inclined to sturdily support the request of the Wellington . Professional Orchestra for assistance at.-the hands of tho municipality. The City Council subsidises a number of brass bands to p.'ay at distant points from the city, and mips di modest harvest ±a tram-fares as the material result, but-.hore is an orchestra with, an ideal, an orchestra- of skilled professional musicians 'the members _ of which must sacrilice a good donl of slime to achieve the finish which marked their playing last evening. It provides Wellington's sole and only 'opportunity of hearing some of the best in orchestral music.played at least reasonably near to that standard'which a metropolis should aim.at, and if there is any form of nmsio that deserves encouragentcnt by way of subsidy it is this orchestra. To those music-lovers who have travelled and have their standards theso Sunday evening concerts are as oasos in a desert of musical mediocrity. Wagner is but a name to many, but ho is a potent forco in music the world over, and, to those who have only dipped superficially into the literature of the great German master, the'playing of the overture to "The Flying Dutchman" last evening was a genuine treat. Wagnor has founded Ins vivid work on Heine's legend, in which the Dutch skipper has sworn, after several failures, that ho will sail round the Horn, if ho had to sail to all eternity, and for.his blasphemy ho is doomed to sail tho wintry seas for ever. His release from his thraldom, can only be effected by the -devotion unto death ol a woman. The overtitro embodies tho whole of this poignant drama—it reflect* the crash and tumult of a storm-lashed sea, tho anguish of' tho eternal struggle, illuminated and thrown, into relief by glimpses of sunshine—tho peaco and tranquility of homo life—reflected, by gems of melody from tho wood-winds—but ever the storm king asserts himself, the strings shriek and wail, and the brass section blares' and blasts in weird-arid wonderful harmonies which dramatically fill tho terrifying picture. As a piece of orchestration the. overture is a revelation. Defying all- the conventional laws of harmony, Wagner piles. up an amazing Superstructure of sound that conveys with amazing strength and fidelity, not merely etorin effects, but as a core to it all, the tortured soul of the doomed mariner in its struggle for emancipation. It is tho music of a giant intellect, and was approached with an address which reflected credit on the orchestra, although played at tho end of n tiring programme. ■ Another notable effort was the fantasia "Otello" (Verdi), the opera in which the aged composer astonished the world by forsaking the primrose- path of sugarcoated melody, and clothed the. Shakespearean theme with a, score almosL Wagnerian in its rugged strength' and majesty. Weber's overture to "Oberon" always charms with its sunny melodies and harmonic grace, and was very evenly played. "The Angelus" of Jlassonot is an old favourite. It is alive with the devotional spirit of rural France—with the bells of Sabbath chiming drowsily across the fair fields of IMcardy. The 'Toupee Vapante" of Poldiui, dainty ami eye-tickling, was delicately played (the solo flute being particularly well played), and an encore was insisted upon, ,'i'he Bamo fate-.was accorded tho bizarre "Chinese Wedding Procession" in which could be detected reflections of many aiis from lighter works having an oriental setting. There was, however, no resisting its quaint harmonies and swinging rhythym. The programme also included Blon'a "Lieberstraum." Mr 11. | jUcschini knows his music, and ho conducts with care and ability, and tho smoothness of the '-performances given under his understandable baton speak volumes for his work generally as conductor.

THE DOMINION, MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 1919.