MUSIC WEEK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 194, 18 August 1933, Page 13

MUSIC WEEK.

ANOTHER FINE CONCERT. CHORAL AND ORCHESTRAL. There was a disappointing attendance at the Town Hall last night to hear the fifth, and, incidentally, one of the best of the series of Music Week concerts. The programme was provided by a festival chorus of 150 voices, and the Auckland Musicians' Orchestra of 45 professional musicians, both under the direction of Mr. E. Varley Hudson. The following choirs were represented in the chorus:— Municipal Choir, St. Mary's Cathedral, All Saints', the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Holy Trinity (Devonport), St. Alban's and St., John's.

The programme opened with a performance of Brahms' "Song of Destiny" ("Schicksalied"), perhaps the most widely loved of all Brahms' compositions and considered to be the most perfect of bis smaller choral works. Although handicapped to some slight degree by lack of opportunity for rehearsal, both chorus and orchestra gave a performance which afforded an excellent side, of the technical beauties as well as the sweetness and charm of this melodious but difficult composition. The second work given by the festival chorus and orchestra was Parry's delightful "Blest Pair of Sirens," a composition which is frequently given by choral societies in the Old Country. Written, as it is, in eight parts, this is not simple to sing. Last night's performance was, however, of a high standard, and under Mr. Hudson's able conductorship the manifold beauties were revealed to the very evident satisfaction of the appreciative audience.

The following numbers from Tschaikoweky's "Nutcracker" Suite were played by the festival orchestra: —Overture, March, Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy, and Dance of the Flutes; all played with verve and precision. Mr. Hudson conducted throughout the evening with much taste, and Mr. Haydn Murray ably led a most efficient body of instrumentalists.

Two very beautiful part-songs were sung by the Municipal Choir, these being Elgar's "My Love Dwelt in a Northern Land," and Edward German's "Orpheus With His Lute," both of which were given with nice expression ana excellent tone. The assisting vocalists were Mrs. Cyril Towsey and Mr. Len Barnes. Mrs. Towsey opened with a bracket of songs by two Russian composers, "Could I But Express in Song" (Malaschkin), and "The Soldier's Bride" (Rachmaninoff), both of which were sung with much artistic expression. As a recall number she sang "My Lover, He Comes on a Ski" (Clough Leighter). For her second appearance on the programme the singer chose Cowan's "For a Dream's Sake" instead of the programme number, and added "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" (Graham Peel) as an encore.

Mr. Len Barnes' openiDg bracket contained two fine numbers, Schumann's "Belshazzar" and "Penseo d'Automne" (Massenet), both sung most expressively. To these he added as a recall number '"Reveille" (Baker). The beautiful operatic aria, "Eri tu," from Verdi's "Un Ballo in Maechera," was Mr. Barnes' second choice, and was delivered so successfully that he had to return to sing "When a Maiden Takes Your Fancy" (Mozart).

Miss Kathleen O'Leary was a most sympathetic accompanist, and Mr. Len Barnes made an efficient stage manager.

In the course of the evening Mr. Hudson made a brief speech, in which he thanked all those who had assisted in the performance.

The sixth and final concert takes place in the Town Hall to-night, when a miscellaneous programme will be presented, in which the German Club orchestra and the "Co-Optimists" will take a leading part.