PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2896, 15 September 1909, Page 69

PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

The large audience that attended last week's performance of the Dunedin Philharmonic Society in the Garrison Hall was treated to what, taken as a whole, was one of the best concerts the society has given. It is true that in the more difficult selections played there were not wanting instances where the orchestra fell short of requirements, but these -were neither frequent nor of serious import. There were strong evidences, that Signor Squarise is getting the orchestra well in hand, and that the members comprising it are gaining that confidence without which a "creditable performance -can scarcely be looked for. ~ The iteme were for the most part somewhat heavy, aixl lighter music might with advantage have been drawn upon more largely. The overture to Verdi's opera "La Forza del Deslino " was certainly ou© of the best of the evening's performances. The music is itself charming, and tuneful to a more than ordinary degree, and it was admirably played. It is varied in its nature, but thie dramatic predominates, and in this and the softer and strikingly beautiful subjects frequently met with in the overture, the orchestra was heaixl to equal advantage. In the closing selection the orchestira again acquitted itself with distinction. This was "Danza originale," by Nicola Celega, and its quaint beauty was interpreted with very considerable success. Unlike some of the other selections rendered, its performance was consistently good throughout, and it was probably only the fact that it came at the end of the programme that restrained the audience from expressing 1 even greater appreciation than it did. An exceedingly pretty little " Intermezzo," by Czibulka, for strings' only, found the greatest favour with those present, and had to be repeated. It is not by any means unfamiliar, is written in waltz time, and has a dreamy beauty about it that is most alluring. In strong contrast to it was a Reverie by J. R. Squires, and as these two items were bracketed the- contrast was the more observable. The peculiar gravity which is a distinctive characteristic of the Reverie was not lost sight of, and its general treatment was admirable. " March Hongroiae," by Berlioz, was a rather talcing item and was effectively played, though its performance was' not perhaps eqv.al to that of some of the other selections-. A vary fair measure of success was albta.ined in th© intermezzo "Pan urid Echo," by Sibelius, the character of which does not make it easy of performance. Tschaikowsky's symphony No. 6, "Pathetique," in B minor, was probably the most taxing piece of work the orchestra had set it, and in the earlier stages of the third movement there was a tendency to waver more than once. This, however, disappeared to a great extent ac the symphony proceeded, and the allegro was very well handled, the march in particular being brilliantly played. Miss M. 0. May appeared on two occasions, and her singing was an improvement on what is frequently heard at orchestral concerts. Her song 3 were "It was a lover and his lass," and " When a merry maiden," and in both she succeeded in drawing from the audience that emphatic applause that constitutes an encore. The songs were sung with taste and really good effect, and the two additional ones given were equally well received. Mr D. Cooks acted as accompanist.