ORCHESTRAL CONCERT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 August 1941, Page 7

ORCHESTRAL CONCERT

LAST NIGHT’S PERFORMANCE

EXCELLENT PROGRAMME.

ITEMS WARMLY APPLAUDED

The programme presented by the Masterton Orchestral Society in the Opera House last night deserved much better patronage by the public than it received. In spite of losses from the ranks of the orchestra owing to Avar demands, the society's decision to continue its concerts is a commendable one- and it must be disappointing to the conductor, Mr C. W. Kerry and the members of the orchestra, after many Weeks of practices, to find such a poor attendance of the public at the orchestra’s concerts.

Although the orchestra, which has lost considerably in numerical strength, is unable to produce the volume attainable when it boasted forty members, it is still an excellent combination. Last night’s performance was a splendid one in many respects and the audience warmly applauded at every opportunity, even in the brief intervals between the sections of a suite. The conductor and players were left in no doubt as to the hearty appreciation of those present. The highlight of the evening’s entertainment was a request item “Straussiana” (Strauss-Borschel) in which the solo pianiste was Miss Gwen Grieg. A delightful interpretation was given by both orchestra and pianiste, in which full play was made on the lilting waltz tunes for which Strauss is famous. An encore was demanded and the number was repeated. No doubt the society has a good and sufficient reason to account for the fact that a grand piano was not available for the soloist in this presentation, but it was somewhat disappointing to find that Miss Grieg had to play on a cottage piano, especially when her solo work was a feature of the evening's programme. At the conclusion of her performance Miss Grieg was presented with a bouquet. The vocal soloist. Mr D. Gouper, was in fine form in his selections, “Silent Worship" (Handel) and "Summer Time in Bredon" (Graham Peel), As encores he sang the ever-popular “I Hear a Thrush at Eve” (Cadman) and “The English Rose" (Ed. German). He was ably accompanied by Miss Grieg.

The orchestral items wore well chosen. A particularly tuneful and popular overture, Beethoven’s “Egmont,” opened the programme and then followed “Pastel” (Paradis), “La Lisonjera” (Chaminade), “Petite Suite de Concert” (Coleridge-Taylor), “Pierrot” and “Pierette” (Hadley) and “London Suite” (Coates). Throughout the orchestra gave a very pleasing performance, which reflected credit on the conductor and players alike. It is to be hoped that it will continue its good work, which has provided’real enjoyment to many music-lovers for some years past.