The Week's Music...

New Zealand Listener, Volume 37, Issue 933, 28 June 1957, Page 15

The Week's Music...

by '

SEBASTIAN

HE column may read like a catalogue this week; but with a glut of good things it is difficult to single out or discard any of them. The Auckland Festival’s variety was immense (YC links), ranging from opera to light songs, the programmes being carefully planned and well presented, with the National Orchestra forming a_ solid background for a galaxy of soloists. With members of the Orchestra, the National Opera Company presented the Impresario of Mozart and Menotti’s The Medium, two utterly contrasted operas which yet made a satisfying programme. We are becoming quite familiar with the company now, and expect it to give us convincing opera; that it never fails to do so is the remarkable thing. This particular evening was good from the broadcasting point of view as well, since the usual "fading" effect as the singers moved about had been adequately combated, and no voices were lost in the limbo of the footlights. Then we have the singers who have no staging or décor to assist them, who rely on vocal chords alone. Glenda Ray-

mond paid a return visit and was outstanding as usual, with a wide range of songs and arias that brought out her fine coloratura technique and pure tone; even the bearded device of the flute obbligato seemed worthwhile in this context. Andrew Gold and Pamela Woolmore produced a pleasant recital of short songs; and in yet another recital Kathleen Reardon’s mezzo was heard in some smooth singing, particularly a group’ of Brahms lieder. The National Orchestra ‘itself was in very good voice, and presented us with a notable assortment. Lilburn’s "Birthday Offering" was played again, and I think improves with acquaintance; and

on a larger scale, Petrouchka, which is probably as taxing a work as they will meet, was clear and accurate, with effective characterisation and dramatic impact. Mr Robertson’s point duty must have been up to expectations, because there were rarely any hints of accidents in the heavy orchestral traffic. The veteran pianist Jascha Spivakovsky joined the Orchestra to play Beethoven’s fourth Concerto, which in his hands was sparkling but diffuse-"fizzy" would be the word-with a few obvious errors which rather spoilt the total effect. In a solo recital, however, he was in his element with a lovely Doumka of Tchaikovski, and the plaintive third Sonata by Kabalevsky, which has real insight behind its performance. After this the inevitable Chopin encores could only be anticlimax.