ORCHESTRAL CONCERT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 106, 3 May 1912, Page 8

ORCHESTRAL CONCERT.

FIPST CONCERT. That the success -if the. admirable concert given by the Auckland On-he.-tral Society shows no waning was made plain by the aspect of the Town Hall list, night, when there was a large and interested audience present. This is well, because, the ;>ocictv is doing a pood work which is of an educational value alike to interpreters and listeners, by presenting from time to time famous works of great masters. T he programme was an admirable on**, and there were many romendable lectures in the rcnd'Tinps given of tlii j different numbers. The transitions were | made with perfect ea.-o; there v.i- a lin« I .-••n.-e of freedom pro !uce<l by Might and | almost imperceptible change* •>! -peed, i always so made as to give prominence j to the characteristic rhythm and accen- i tuation of each musical phra-e. The climaxes were fittingly worked up; as a ! rule the intonation, attack, release, and I expression all received the attention desired The blending of the parts naa good and the executants were equal to i the intricacies of the music, -while Heir .1. Wielaert, who conducted, knew -what effects he wanted, and how to procure j them. There was a large attendance of ! the strings, ably led by Miss Whitelaw, i and the woodwind and brass-ohoir3 pave | a good account of themselves in their I music. Beethoven's magnificent over- i ture to Egmont, on. Sl— consisting of three movements which tell of oppression, conflict and victory —is one of th' , great composer's grandest, and most lin- | passioned tone-poem*; it is itself .i ' drama, and is not regarded as a <or.yen tiorral introduction to a play— received ! !i fine performance. In the opeium? ' " Sostenuto ma no troppo" the >Lnn!;s , produced a plea.-ing tone, and the parr- [ playing by the wind- stood out »ii*- ' tinrtly. Very noticeahle. was the de- | light fill pia.ni.-simo displayed by the dif- j ferent divisions in the irniiatnry pi.ages of the beautiful theme.. Fine con- j trasl-s of tone, pood lead.-, decisive play- | ing. marked the reading given of Ih<» ■ first part, of the Allegro, while th« 10l- ; lowing chord passages, with the dl=- j turl.ed lu-renls for the wind-choir, and ; the running measures of eighths and i fourths for the strings, were admirably i shown. while further on the difficult.! harmonies for the winds were also most ! carefully and correctly -iven. and ;i ' beautiful transition was made by the : same instrument* into the concluding "Allegro con brio.' which \v;ls played with fine effect and satisfying quality of tone. The famous Russian composer Tsehaikowaky, who wrote several I symphonies and suites for orchestra. ] was represented by his popular "1S12 : Overture.' , and Ihe "'Gosse Noisette" suit* , , both works of a characteristic nature and essentially Tvussiaji. The former received a graphic delivery, the orchestra had the assistance of the band of the Third Regiment, and when the united forces performed, the volume of j tone, was at times overpowering in its pffert. The opening Largo was exrellently played- The strings and wind shone, to advantage in the Andante. A descriptive performance was secured of the "Allegro Ginsto."' the theme, of -fh-e "".Marseillaise" standing out with clear-' ness, while the Cossack national air was i well brought out. A fine rallentamio i was secured, leading into the Largo, which was a veritable whirlwind of sound, the brass infftruments ami the; tubular beDs heightening the effect considerably, while a sonl-stirring peTformanee ■was given of the "Allegro Vivace." In reply to enthusiastic demands, the last part was repeated. Th* same -composer's '"C'asse Noisette Suite" —the. muffin of which is of purely Slavonic character, spontaneous and natural, revealing a thorough acquaintance with orchestral technique and a veritable, mastery of colour—was greatly admired, and two movements had to be repeated. In the performance! of the different numbers, the band brought out the delicacies of expression, niceties i of phrasing, barbaric gorgeonsness of colour, and ■contrasts of rhythmical ', ideas, in a manner which served to ex- i hibit the charming orchestration to I splendid purpose. The celesta part of i the third movement was played on a I email muted pianoforte by Mrs. Mac- ! andrew. Schubert's "Cradle Song" was! tenderly given, and was asked for again, while a. characteristic rendering was obtained of Liszt's "Second Khapsodv." That grand classical scena and aria, "Ha! Treuloser," with orchestral accompaniment, by Beethoven, found a worthy exponent in Madame Wielaert. who gave a dramatic, forcible, and highly enjoyable reading of this exacting work. I She also sang Sibelius' '-The Tryst" most artistically. After each solo Madame i Wielaort was honoured with warm l WlT.ll?. i