A SUCCESSFUL CONCERT

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 43, 15 November 1926, Page 11

A SUCCESSFUL CONCERT

BY LEON DE MAUNY’S ORCHESTRA When Mr. Leon de Mauny introduced bis orchestra last year many of those who were present at the concert realised that the result obtainable in. such a short time could only be achieved by one who knew his business, for probably it is not given to every musician to conduct an orchestra of practically raw amateurs (as far as the strings were concerned), inducing them to play with that spirit, good tone, and understanding that made the performance an unmixed delight. Those concerned in musical performances generally in Wellington know how difficult it is to raise an orchestra of any pretension to play serious music, yet Mr. de Mauny has established the fact that it can be done. The concert on Saturday evening was another proof that this very able violinist has the gift to mould an orchestra to his will, and, in so doing, to get the best out of its members and at the same time the essence of all that is beautiful in the music. The programme was most attractive. It opened with a very spirited performance of the overture to Gounod’s forgotten opera "Mirella, a very tuneful and stimulating overture that embodies some of the charm and is not altogether unlike the "Kermesse music in "Faust.” There was a fine strong string tone, which indicated that everyone was doing his or. her part, whilst the woodwind and brass section were most efficient. The swing of the merry music caught the fancy of the audience, and hearty applause resulted, Greig demands a greater degree of delicacy, and the two pieces by him, A La Novergienne” and "Premier Rencontre, very refined in their atmospheric character, were not played quite so smoothly as was possible, but the wonder was that these works (for strings only) were played so well. The big test of the evening was the “Symphony in GMajor,” in which “Rapa” Haydn has embodied ' some extremely charming music that is quite characteristic. Here is form wedded to simplicity of style, daintine-s and refinement of the highest order, with never a suspicion of those puzzling dissonances, that fleck the orchestral music of the' day. The Symphony opens with a very melodious slow movement, and works up to a stimulating allegro, in which an arresting theme is repeated in many forms, notably as a quintet by the wood winds and French horn. Then follows a -lively allegretto, and an entrancing minuet redolent or powdered wigs and crinolines; ' whilst the final presto takes the form of a jolly country dance that is quite irresistible. Two popular, pieces on the programme were the "Berceuse, by Jarnefelt (with solo violin), and the always pleasing "Loin du Bal (Giliet), which was so well, played that it bad to be repeated. Finally the orchestra played the ballet suite “La Cource, by Delibes, the French composer, who has a very special gift for writing ballet music of the most entrancing order, lhe suite consists of four movements, viz ;; "Pas de Echarpes,” “Scene d Amour, m “Variation,”’ and “Danse Circassion. and of these there is not one bar that is not vitally melodious and rhythmically piquant, and it was played in a manner that swayed the imagination delightfully. The last movement bad to be repeated. The vocalist of the evening was Mrs. Clinton Hunt, the possessor of a light yet pleasing soprano, which was used with delicate artistry in ‘L’Uoure Exquise” (Poldowski), “Menuot de. Martini” (Wekerlin), the beautiful and appealing “Shepherd’s Cradle Song,and Henschel’s ever-refreshing “Spring. Ino singer was encored, and received wanv floral tokens of admiration. It should lie mentioned that Mr. D. Lavin was leader of the orchestra, and Madame do Mauny presided at the pianoforte.