THE BESSES O' THE BARN BAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 16 March 1907, Page 2

THE BESSES O' THE BARN BAND.

The box plan fur the Besses o' th'Jßarn coneerU; u nich tuko place at the Theatre Royal nex£ J/riday and Saturday even(iug.s, 22nd and 23rd, opuijed sjjlciKjkUy lat ihe Dresden yesterday. lho early booking indicates attendances of the packed order. The "Lyttelton Times/' speaking of the Desscs, says;— The JJctiscs o' tli' Jiarn Baud scored au iiu* mense success on the r first appearance m tlm colonies last night. Their playing was admittedly a revelation in ban 4 paiying. .No one ever dreamed such tenderness of tone and softness of quality could be won from sounding brass, lucre was no use for criticism in the face of the performance wh-ch this wonderlill Jiand gave. Pausing to note 'the delicate purity of tlie soprano, the listener was forced to recognise the beautifully rounded brass. Drinking in tho of the iindividAial parts,, he was compelled to note the precision uf attack, the masterly release of the notes, the brilliance and finish of the whole band, the charming nuances, and bright, polished finish of every phrase and every feature. The first conviction ilia 1 struck home wa» the sense of wonderful crispneps of £he music, Having digested ihis, the lUtuncf was overwhelmed in eonllict between appreciation of the consistently maguilieent tone and the immensity of character which was imparted to the music. .Much of thi-> was duo to the personality of Conductor Owen, as well as to his musical ability, lie holds the band in the hol.ow uf iio Jiand, and plays upon it as a musician would |)iay upon art instrument he loved. Thei''- are no firework- in bis conduct; ing, no hiro\ying the 1 mclight upon li'msHf. lie stmpiv draws the hand jo an expression of its best by magnetism, wh.ch eveji outsiders cannot fail to recognise. 'l'ho programme presented last night )Vi\> not the band's "coldly classical" best —it was something better i(; was discreetly vuriod to appeal to ajl tastes, and ran from light to heavy ijn'i'a - from Wahlteufel to Rossini, The reception accorded was tremendous. Wos. j»laits are ou view at the Droadon diem seats may be reserved.