JOHN DUNN’S CONCERT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 915, 7 March 1930, Page 14

JOHN DUNN’S CONCERT

AUDIENCE ENTHRALLED BY FAMOUS VIOLINIST FINE ENGLISH PERFORMER A large audience filled the Town Hall Concert Chamber last night when the distinguished English violinist, Mr. John Dunn, gave a most delightful concert, with the assistance of Mr. Colin Muston and some twenty members of the Bohemian Orchestra. Mr. Dunn has for many years been recognised as one of the greatest of English violinists, and his superb playing last night demonstrated his right to the exalted position he has won for himself in the musical world. Born in Hull, Mr. Dunn at the age of 12 went to study in Leipzig for a thorough musical training, and the great Richter and Jadassohn were among his famous teachers. Returning to England when little more than a youth, he quickly established himself in the front rank of soloists, and ever since his name lias been almost a household word in British musical circles. His playing is thoroughly English in style—straight-forward, definite, clean and restrained. He obtains a wonderfully pure and silvery tone, his technique is of the highest order, and his readings intellectual and musicianly, while his attention to nuance and rhythm leaves nothing to be desired. Only very occasionally last night did one feel that emotion was unduly restrained, and that a little abandon would have still further enhanced this polished playing. The big work on the programme was tho famous Max Bruch concerto in G minor, in which Mr. Dunn instantly arrested the attention of the audience. Tho introductory movement was given with dignity and fine sense of “line,” but it was in tho, exquisite Adagio that the merit of the player was supremely evident. The beautiful subject was given out with most ravishing tone and perfect nuance and phrasing, and throughout the movement the playing compelled one’s unstinted admiration. The finale was vigorous and rhythmic, but one felt the tempo was slightly on the slow side. The Andante and Finale of Mendelssohn's great concerto were given with fine finish. The Andante was played with beautiful balance of tone, shading, and sense of form, while the Finale went gaily along with unfaltering step, and in this movement- the assisting orchestra did some very good work. The climax of the movement was approached with animation, but somehow seemed to just fail complete realisation. Numerous solos with piano accompaniment were admirably played by Mr. Dunn. The Tartini variations on the well-known Correlli gavotte were charmingly performed, as was Chopin’s Nocturne in E flat, the latter part of which was especially satisfying. Elgar s dainty “La Capriccieuse” exhibited delightful delicate gaiety in its performance, and the soloist’s own “Berceuse” proved a very acceptable and wistful little morceau. The concluding number, Sarasate’s difficult “Caprice Basque,” served to display Mr. Dunn’s remarkable technique to the full, and was received with great applause. Encores included Dvorak’s “Humoresque” and a Polish dance, both played in delightful style. The orchestra under Mr. Muston gave valuable assistance in the concertos, and played spiritedly though rather raggedly Brahm’s No. 6 Hungarian Dance, while Miss Elsie May adequately played the pianoforte accompaniments to the smaller violin solos. It is understood Mr. Dunn will give another concert during the coming week, and music lovers should not fail to hear this delightful artist. S.K.P.

David Wark Griffith’s all-talking dramatisation of the human side of Abraham Lincoln will have in the title role v\ alter Huston, stage star of “Desire Under the Elms,” and film star of “The Lady Lies” and “Gentlemen of the Press.” Stephen Vincent Benet. author of “John Brown’s Body.” is in Hollywood with Mr. Griffith preparing the story, which will show a Lincoln who wrestled with his neighbours. fell in love, lost his temper, and otherwise revealed that the historians placed the halo on the accepted portrait of the martyred President.

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