ORCHESTRAL CONCERT.

Observer, Volume 6, Issue 151, 4 August 1883, Page 10

ORCHESTRAL CONCERT.

. . <p. _. Ybstbedat week tlie Orchestral Society gave-ifcs sixth concert in the Choral Hall. Herr Carl Schmitt, though suffering from indisposition," wielded the baton, and must have felt rewarded ; for all the difficulties attendant on the working :■ up of the concert by the recognised excellence of its performance. It is to be regretted that the,attendance was not larger, it being no better than, that at the previous concert, which was, on the . whole, much inferior to this last ; but Auckland has yet much to learn in point of taste ere it.can . fully lay claim to the title of being a musicaltown. The only focus of good music which can be said to exist is in the Orchestral and Societies, and the greater the recognition which. is paid to them, the more surely may we knowthat the standard of musical culture is rising. Of native ability there is no lack, but it is chiefly frittered away upon bad models. /The accession' of several fresh lady violinists to the orchestra is, however, a good sign, and, did ladies realise fully,, how playing that instrument becomes them, tlie - orchestra would soon not be deficient in Violinpower. In point of merit, the orchestral portion, of the concert far exceeded the vocal part. Bene; diet's "I'm alone," eung by Mrs Cooper, was a very creditable performance on the lady's part, showing careful attention to previous instruction, . and a possession of very fair vocal power ; but the . exquisitely sympathetic quality of voice necessary to give effect to the composition was wanting, and the orchestral accompaniment, therefore^ more than divided honours with the vocalist.* The only other noteworthy features in the vocal portion were the quartettes and " The last nian." The former, coT!4«dngo£ Keiohardt's "Image of the rose" nnd Kile-ken's "The soldier's loTe," % were.. satisfactorily rendered br Meeere Barker (2), ConJfl nell, Templar, QjjbQrne.jsnd Charter, .undJL^bd^^ little more finish, would liare each VrJciP^Hm encore. Hr A. H. Stuart sting " The la^t man," by C;i!:ot;t. and did vrall in eiruggling against- an excessive orchestra] accompaniment ; 'buiftlfe composition is such as io nmke one wish ithit. Mr Stuart were singing it in character and , we had all most fortunately preceded him to the grave. Noise, noise, and old hackneyed phrases do not constitute modern music. la the orchestral department, all was satisfactory, and . some trulyexcellent and enjoyable. Chief of all came ; that ; superb composition of Mendelssohn's, named . * " Fiugals Cave." Though not so taking on first- ' hearing as his concerto in G- minor, it hae more depth, light, and shade. Despite the incompleteness of the orchestra, it was coinmendabiy^ rendered, and proved a very creature of delight to some present, though years mu6t elapse before it '-. will be generally appreciated. At the concerto.,! appeared an additional element of interest, in the form of Miss Stevens, who made her first appear-' ance as a pianiste at these concerts. She is a player of great promise, and acquitted herself : admirably. One may regard her ac the first fruit y of that musical regeneration which is slowly creep- , ing over Auckland. There is a style and intelligence about ncr playing betokening more than the mere power of rapping sound out of an instrument, which is so often mistaken for musical capacity. She has a supple, delicate bund, a firm flexible wrist, and holds her elbows well down to her side. With a wider knowledge of musical compositions and various modes of musical feeling, she will do credit to the community;, The first part concluded with Haydn's symphony (No. 11) , which was in its cheeriness. and vivacity well shown out by the orchestra, though certain hiatus were noticeable, particularly among '.'.■ \ the reeds. In the overture to the " Magic Flute* ' -.' (Mozart), the orchestra did not dißtinguiah itself,' the basoons being woefully wanting, and disagree-"/ able gaps occurring from lock of proper ■instraments. The "Turkish Patrol," by Michoelia, evoked the most astounding applause/ quite 'unworthy of its barbaric nature. It is intended to represent the crescendo and diminuendo of bar- , baric Turkish music — music just one degree removed from that of the Chinese; or the. High- inlanders in its primitirene6s. No . doubt Jife*Jif ';■ graphic, in so far as it brings before, "tjio inuuLV eye tte Ottoman patrol us it approaches:'anfrecedes; but the representation, of that Is a mere; - ' piece of musical trickery, and could ,J>e done witi* any well-known air. The concert; VaV drought to a close by Strauss' "Normen" waltzesT~a sprightly composition, given in good etyle-^-and .y the audience then dispersed under the impression' / that, notwithstanding all obstacles, the orchestral , concerts are improving at eaoh successive. perform-' ance, and will soon be another feature of *Auck- '\ land to " boast " about, . • •'■'! > - i •;. . ■ ■ — ■^^^^j- i -' - it .

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