ORCHESTRAL UNION CONCERT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 294, 11 December 1896, Page 3

ORCHESTRAL UNION CONCERT.

The Auckland Orcheßtral Union gave thoir fourth and linal concert of the present reason afc the Choral Hall last night. As ia uaual als these concerts there waa a good audience, and as the programme had been selected by the subscribers themselves on this occasion, it for the moat part consisted of old favourites, many oE which might have been heard at their recent concerts. The nearest approach to a novelty was the " Valse Mdluncolique " and the " L)i Bravura" from German's Gipsy Suite, which ha? only once before been played in Auckland. The second bearing cuittirnu the high opinion wo formed of this music, and we certainly hopo fchab some of the oiher works from this inspired composer's pen may from lime to time bo perlormed in Auckluiid. Tho orchestra did these intere^tiHg numbers ample justice. The thors introduction to the val»e in which tho fiuio has a short solo immediately answered by the clarionet, and made such good uee of afterwards during the course of ttie movement, was exquisitely played, and throughout Mie delicate tones ot the wood wind were particularly pluasing. Tito "Di Bravura" is in striking contrast to tho " Vulso," for it is full ot life and fira. is was vigorously rendered, the violins bringing out thoir subjects ia a way thutshowed they quice entered into the spirit of the music, nnd they could hardly do otherwise, for it in must melodwu'', full of imagination and so perfectly orchestrated |that it could not, but giva pleasure to tho players. Those two pieces were considerably applauded, and seem already to have become established favourite*. Cowen's familiar " Lilac " and "Yellow Jasmine," from bis '* Lunguuge 01 Flowers," were pUyed with tcreab deicacy. Kelor Bolt's overture, " Uiiiiurir-cho Lusupie!,' was energetically rendered, will) a tendency on tlio p;>rt. of 'ho brass to play too iou?i, but the jiiece do resistance wtis undoubtedly the Alieyro uini Tempo di Marcm from HAY* great " Leonora " Symphony. Those two movements were carefully executed, due attention being paid to light and shade. The march is a very popular number, and was a good deal applauded. Weber's '' Invitation a Ia Vuißfc," eeorod /or a full orchestra, wan an excellent,' number, in which the violins particularly distinguished themselves, for they had ii good deal of work i;i it, which ihoy accomp isho lin » very arciatic atylo, bowiny and phrasing their passages woil ftiul paying great attention to lisjhc and .-li«d >, though in this number the bines 'vas inclined sometimes to play 'oo sonorousiy. A selection from Rossini's tuneful opera, " iVlosun in E_>ypt," proved an f'.cce.itablo item. Tho aiflerenti melodies introduced afford good opportunities for bolo playing:, iho most popular theme in it being, probably, the ceiebrated prayer, the melody of v% riich wus firsc played on the ouphoniur/i ami afterwards on tho cornet, th<; full orchestra taking up the chorus miit. Miss Tilly, who has a pleusiug contralto voice, ?;«ng Toati'e " Good bye " very artistically and with such purity of infcona tion that every woui could be heurd distinctly. She alao contributed Barnard's " Bid" me to Love," in which she was accompanied by Mono. E)e Wiilimoif, vrho played a violin obligato in the mo>t excellent style possible. Tho andioncs showed tiieir appreciation of Mias Tilly's songs by recalling her affcer each of them, though on the whole they were not very enthusiastic in their applause, probably owinfr to the c!osene*s of the eveningr, the boat in the hall being rather oppressive. MrG. M. Reid, who was in excellent voice, gdve f* fine rendering; of Molloy's " Love in the Rain." Mr Towsey conducted, and played the accompaniments with his customary skill, and Mon*. De VVillimoff lead the orchestra very efficiently.