GRAMOPHONE CIRCLE

Evening Star, Issue 23375, 19 September 1939, Page 12

GRAMOPHONE CIRCLE

On Saturday evening there was a good attendance of members of the Dunedin Gramophone Circle at the fortnightly recital. Mr \V. J. _ Morrell introduced each item, and his interesting and instructive comments are proving of great educational value, and are always greatly appreciated by those present. The programme opened with the ‘ Corsair ’ overture (Berlioz), played by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, followed by two numbers by Sydney Mac Ewan, the Hebridean tenor. These were ‘ 0 Men from the Fields,’ a cradle song by Padraic Colum, and ‘ She Moved Through the Fair,’ County Donegal traditional. Mozart’s ‘ Quartet in B Flat Major ’ (‘ The Hunt ’), was the, major work on the programme. Mr Morrell’s remarks on this item comprised an outline and development of the work through its movements, the address being very helpful, especially to those not already acquainted with this work. The second half of the recital began with Riisager’s ‘ Trio for Flute, Violin, and Piano,’ followed by ‘ Songs My Mother Taught Me ’ and ‘ Since First I Met Thee,’ sung by Rosa Ponselle, soprano. Next came the well-known ‘ 1812 ’ overture, by Tschaikowsky, and the concluding numbers were ‘ The Song of Finland ’ and ‘ Finnish National Song,’ recorded by the Helsingfors Male Choir. It was a very enjoyable evening’s entertainment, and over the supper criticism and appreciation comment ran freely.