ORCHESTRAL CONCERT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 April 1938, Page 8

ORCHESTRAL CONCERT

BRIGHT PERFORMANCE LAST , NIGHT | ACCOMPLISHED ASSISTING ARTISTS Another bright and thoroughly enjoyable concert was presented by the Masterton Orchestra and assisting artists in the Opera House last night. Under the conductorship of Mr J. Candy, the orchestra played a splendid range of musical items, and was particularly well received throughout. Its selections were well varied and tuneful. The two assisting artists were new to Masterton audiences. Mr L. Dilnot Wales, the possessor of an excellent baritone voice, greatly pleased his audience and Mr E. F. Wilson, a member of the orchestra, charmed his listeners with two 'cello solos admirably played. Schubert's music is invariably of great appeal and the orchestra made a happy choice with its opening number, when it presented this famous composer’s well-known “Marche Militaire. This piece put the musicians in good form for the overture. Weber’s “Peter Schmoll,” probably never before heard in Masterton. Although it was written before Weber was eighteen years old, it abounds in beautiful melody, and it is somewhat surprising that it has not been heard more often. From its slow introduction to its spirited conclusion, it passes through many enchanting themes that never fail to delight. all of which the orchestra brought out well. Mr Wales made his initial bow to a Masterton audience by contributing two songs with orchestral accompaniment —“Still as the Night” (Carl Bohm), and "The Two Grenadiers” (R. Schumann), in both of which he displayed his fine voice to advantage. As an encore he contributed Purcell’s

“Passing By,” a delightful little piece that captivated the audience. A selection “The Gipsy Princess” (E. Kalman), contained a wide variety of tunes which the orchestra handled well and following the interval two of Percy Grainger’s compositions "Shepherd's Hey” and “Mick Morris” provided a fitting introduction to the second half. Mr Wilson showed his capabilities as a ’cellist in "Vorspiel” (C. Reinecke) and “Bouree" (G. F. Handel) played with orchestral accompaniment. The audience demanded an encore and the second piece was repeated. Three Russian impressions—"Berceuse” (A. Iljinsky), "Mazurka” (A. Scriabine), and “Barcarolle" (A. Arensky) played by the orchestra, illustrated different types of compositions by these composers, the last number specially being a delightful little trifle. In the second half, Mr Wales sang with piano accompaniment “To the Forest” (Tschaikowsky) and “Oh,

Could I but Express in Song” (L. Malashkin), in both of which he scored a further success. As an encore he contributed “Heaps o’ Lickins” (R. C. Clarke). Miss C. Donald was an able accompaniste. The programme concluded with the playing of a descriptive suite “Hyde Park” (Roger Jalowics), by the orchestra. In turn a musical picture was presented of scenes in Hyde Park, the Sunday morning parade, Rotten Row, on the Serpentine and around the bandstand, the latter being a particularly bright and rollicking conclusion to an effective selection. The audience insisted on an encore and the final part of the suite was repeated with plenty of vim. Orchestral sets played during the evening were presented to the society by Mrs B. R. Bunny (“Peter Schmoll”), Miss K. Cruickshank (“Three Russian .Impressions”), Mr R. G. Gilbert (“Marche Militaire”), and Mr C. E. Daniell (“Hyde Park.”) Bouquets were presented to the pianiste, Miss C. Donald and to the organiste, Miss A. M. Jones.