ORCHESTRAL CONCERT

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 15 June 1933, Page 2

ORCHESTRAL CONCERT

HAWERA SOCIETY

ATTRACTIVE! PROGRAMME

PRESENTED.

A judicious variety and a contrast in style marked the numbers on the programme of the Hawera Orchestral Society’s opening concert of the season, which was given last night in the Opera Mouse and proved a marked success. The orchestra and the assisting artists were given a warm reception by a large audience. 'The conductor and committee, after consideration, decided to make the orchestral numbers a combination or the popular and classical selections and in this they succeeded well Their choice was very good and the result achieved what they desired. The audience 1 showed its distinct approval. The programme opened with a bright and attractive overture, . “Court Royal,” by Gruenwald, a gay dance number which ends in a line exhilarating finale for full orchestra. A typical* “song of the sea” was given in the, “Nautical Scenes” of Percy Fletcher, \ descriptive of life on board ship. Bright solos for oboe and ’cello are followed by full orchestral effects, the finale being based on the sailor’s hornpipe and alt being redolent of the sea. The lovely “Peer Gynt” suite of the Polish composer Grieg formed the opening of the second jpart of the concert. The orchestra, under the effective direction of the conductor, caught the spirit of the varied sections of the suite, with its an of mystery, leading through the representation of the dawn, the death of Ase, and Anitra’s dance to the revels m the hall of the mountain king. This last is a brilliant and interesting finale and the whole orchestra entered into its spirt with keen appreciation of the ideas of the composer. A gay and spngUtly American sketch “By the Swanee River,” expressive of a coon’s dream of the past, formed the closing number of an attractive series. The orchestra played with an air of confidence that enabled them to get the fullest effect out of the selected numbers. Their work vas as good as anything they have ever done. ° The assisting artists, Mrs and Miss Hughes J ohnson and Mr Horatio Nelson, proved a great musical attraction and delighted the audience with their solo and * concerted numbers. Harp solos are rarely heard in Hawera and that instrument forms a very appropriate accompaniment to the violin. Mrs Hughes Johnson contributed with very nice effect two harp solos, “Meditation” (Oberthur> and “Impromptu Caprice” ’ (Hasselsmann), and was ,eni cored on both occasions. i ' Miss Hughes Johnson showed her- < self, in her violin solos, an artist of great ability, and played effectively cite lovely solos “On Wings of Song” (Mendelssohn) and “Liebefreud” (Kreisler), and added for an encore a paraphrase of the “Volga Boat Song” and a “Russian Folk Song.” The two ladies collaborated in the great “Ave Maria” (Gounod), and , when recalled gave Saint Saens’ “The Swan.” Miss Hughes Johnson and Mr Nelson contributed the great sonata for violin and piano iby Cesar Franck, both showing a marked appreciation of the beauties of the music and a fitting sympathy in their playing. Mas's N. Davis and Mr O. J. Roberts, of Hawera, were the chosen local •soloists, and both were given an enthusiastic reception. Miss Davis sang Bemberg’s “Nymphs and Fawns,” and Mr Roberts “Down the Vale” (Moir), and both were asked for and, gave an encore.

The Sonorous Quartette —Mrs L, H. Giblin and Mr R. George (violins), Miss M. Fox (viola) and Mr H. N. Lester (’cello) —played with very nice effect two concerted numbers, “Rondo,” by Mozai't, and “Deep River” (an old negro melody), securing a good ensemble tone in their playing. The accompanist for the solo numbers was Miss Kathleen Fairhall, and 1 for the orchestra Miss Rodgers, and both gave excellent service at the piano. The conductor, Mr H. C. A. Fox, had his orchestra well controlled and they responded capitally to him, showing the good effects of his careful training. The concert proved that the orchestra has made solid progress, which should ensure a successful season for 1933.