TOWN HALL FESTIVAL

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 299, 16 December 1911, Page 10

TOWN HALL FESTIVAL

A COHVEBSAZIOHE held. Dr;AN" RECITAL BV MR. BABNETT. \ feature of the festivities in conIn- tiun with the opening of the new -J".I--, n Wall was the conversazione held li- evening, when IUOO representative tn /.ens were entertained by the Mayor s-i I l uuncUlor.-. Those present included i! Excellency the Governor {Lord l-l.itsrioii) anj suite. On arrival 'tlie >„, .(< were received by the Mayor and ij.yoress f-Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Parr), g|.,| (he scene was a brilliant one, the »*.emblage being one of the largest of li- kind held in Auckland. Vt intervals during the evening Mr. Afuugluin Burnett played several solas tn tii'- grand organ, which admirably ■rrveil to di.-play the beautiful solo stops a n <! power »'f the noble instrument. To jn:-n extent the fine performance given of tin- opening work by Mendelssohn *,i- ipoiliiJ by the thoughtless ehatter'#j hi simie nl those present. Schubert's 'Si reriaile" and Mendelssohn's •"•Spinning! J .i .-." which it was announced Mr. Barjj I; would p'av. were, omitted by the prguni>t. 'l'lii-m pieces would have displayed the dclkaiti: registers of the organ '.. i evelieja purpose, but Mr. Barnett | re.ilbwd llntt he could pot do justice to ft iit unless: perfect silenco prevailed. lii Harriett op<-nc<l with Mendelssohn's anions ' Cornelius March," composed in Ti.iiiour id the painter, Peter Cornelius. • ivas played with spirit, and exhibited hi full extent, of the instrument admirjbly. r "he hold melody was rendered i-ib great decision and effect; the midair- section, written in Mendelssohn's lig'ihest and free style, was delivered wiili extreme laste and grace of phrus-j in;. the fcoft combinations being used j with lieiuitiful effect, producing a moat satisfying quality of s-ound and suitably i contrasted with flie bold harmonies of tin: prjji.ipal theme, .losef It. Leinberger I Jl<.f.:ipel>mcistor at •'■he Bavarian Court | v,.. -eprevirfced hy his "idyll." This solo I wis tastefully rendered., and' exhibited ;... advantage the soft registers of the ■nrran. Handel's fifth concerto received jiriiid treatment. The introduction was pliive.) vith majesty and deliberation, ii- tones of the onfaii sounding grand <•> I iu>ti e in the rvtreme. Much spirit gnl facility was exhibited in 'the performance given of tlie following move-jin-ni", while the elnirniing "Minuet" >.,- |ila_veil with extreme delicacy, grace, an I deli- ions stop rcgisterings. The benuHfijl "obi reeds and soft Bft siops were '!'-jilavei| to eyeellent purpose in Wag- !"•!-'. j-iuna nee, "To the Evening -Star." f>lielli'v'sj -Fanfaro d'Orgue," the last n..| ■ phi veil by Mr. Barnett. was a brili::i ii'\ interpreted selection, and served to .hove the fall powers of the organ to f-|. »i;dj,| ctTeet. -upper was served in the large oonyei i chamber which adjoins the big hall, niter which tbe guests spent some time in rambling over t-he big building, and in peering the various suites of offices. SIT! U-VfILLVV BARNETT'S OPINION. "A MACVIPK'KNT INSTRUMENT." Tli" ' pinion of Mr Maughan Barnett roiu eriling tli" new Town llall organ, ' n « kiiii he gav-: t,he opening recital on Tlmr-dny. was obtained by a, representa- : i of the "Star" tirifi morning. "1 think i ii i- a realh magnificent insfru.ll' n:." paid tlie. weJJ-knmrn city organist of Wellington, "and that Auckland is to i I- ring™dilated on having such a fine Biii>icul posseMion. AJso, that the city «.- 'ortunatc in having so generous a muni-1 •.-ipal benefactor as Mt Brett. Mr! Burnett remarked that the instrument tinod last night's test splendidly, j hi-I with nil big organs this was eonFiilcrerl in a most important light. "How- j c.\ ■ v." he i-ontinued, "I rould hardly ex- | K-t anything different of a Norman and Bard organ. The Aueklanc. instrument is a sister to tlrat in Wellington, and I . i:il. thut both cities may be regarded ;- possessing two of the finest concert Organs iu the world." Mr. Harnett remarked that he was particularly struck with the fine tonal qualities of the organ, with the rich rffei.'ts produced by the higher stops, ill with the successful mechanical arrangements. He felt quite at home on ■ ' ir,,l readily fell into the methods pi it.- manipulation. Mr. Barnett thought that the encouragement of municipal music was one of the most Interesting features of civic life in th" two big cities of the North Island af New Zealand. In Wellington, for instance, the municipal authorities protilled municipal organ music for as low ji i harge as possible on all occasions; they had given material support to a municipal orchestra, and were now engaging leading vocal talent to assist at the municipal concerts. This would Dow hj" possible iu Auckland, and he did not doubt that the privilege would be highly prized by the citizens. One oi the most gnitif3 - ing features of the I'rjtals in Wellington, he had been told, was the large number of young men invariably in attendance. it tv.i.s his practice to give organ recitals Svery Saturday night all the year round, with the exception of vacations ii holiday time. He felt sure, he said, that the up-to-date- appointments of the Auckland city organ would, .stand it in good stead for very many years to txirn-.