DUNEDIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Evening Star, Issue 21748, 16 June 1934, Page 19

DUNEDIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

CONCERT NEXT WEDNESDAY The Dunedin Symphony Orchestra has never been set a more arduous programme than that selected by M. de Rose for next Wednesday’s concert in the Concert Chamber; and incidentally the orchestra’s large following have never been offered so attractive a musical treat as the programme supplies. With two “ star ” items in Rimsky-Korsakoff’s symphonic suite ‘ Scheherazade,’ and the two Wagner preludes from ‘Lohengrin,’ and such enticing subsidiary items as the Mendelssohn ‘ Scherzo,’ Moussorgsky’s rollicking ‘ Gopak,’ Goddard’s exquisite ‘ Adagio Pathetique,’ and some choice excerpts from ‘ Cavallcria Rusticana,’ the evening should be one of unalloyedjoy ; while, giving full measure and brimming over, the two soloists are notably talented. They are Miss Koa Oliver (Mrs Nees), who will play (with the orchestra) Cesar Franck’s brilliant ‘ Symphonic Variations ’; and Miss Florence Pacey (soprano), who will sing the valse song from German’s ‘ Tom Jones,’ and other numbers.

The ‘ Scheherazade Suite ’ is composed in the noble style, with much variety of orchestral -effect, and_ it sounds the depths and shoals of passion. The musical content is based upon the legend of the Sultan, who, deeming all women faithless, had sworn to kill each of his wives after the first night, but was turned from his purpose by the Sultana, Scheherazade, who tells him tale after tale for 1,001 nights. The stories told are the thematic material of the suite, and embrace the whole adventure of Sinbad, familiar to ail youth—at any rate of the pre-jazz generation. The suite opens with a. harp-like theme suggestive of the teller of tales, and this theme recurs at intervals to the finale —the woman has the last word. The music throughout is interesting and effective, and the well-known festival and storm themes of the fourth movement (allegro molto) are developed with great skill and dramatic elan. This is a real “ programme ” number, as‘■’’’•od of popularity.