Orchestral Society Has Made Gratifying Progress

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 14710, 30 June 1948, Page 2

Orchestral Society Has Made Gratifying Progress

First Recital Of 1948 Season Excellent Programme Well Received The Tauranga Orchestral Society presented its first recital of the 1948 season in the Town Hall on Monday evening. In spite of wet weather there was a large audience which gave many signs of the genuine appreciation that is felt for the opportunity of hearing, in Tauranga, live performances of orchestral music.

The programme had been compiled expertly. The orchestra was heard in the “Raymond” overture (Thomas), “Coronach” (E. Barratt), Symphony in B minor (The Unfinished (Schubert). “Three Dances” Nell Gwyn (Edward German), the “Peer Gynt” Suite (Grieg) and, as a recall number, the Little Norwegian Suite. Mr Lloyd Spears, bass baritone, contributed “Hear Me, Ye Winds and Waves” (Handel), “In a Monastery Garden” (Ketelby), “Mvself, When Young” (Lehmann) and the dramatic “Edward” (Lowe). In response to an insistent cMI of encore, Mr Spears sang the Negro Spiritual “Every Time I Feel De Spirit” (Arthur Loan). The programme included also the Mendelssohn Trio, No. 1, Op. 46. the players being Miss Clarice E. Ray (piano), Mr A. Grade (violin) and Mr J. Spellman (’cello). Tribute To Conductor It would be evident to those of the audience who had attended the recitals of last season that the orchestra has made gratifying progress. All of the music presented at this recital was played well and not at anv time was there any doubt that the orchestra might fail to give a creditable performance. The respcnibilities of the conductor are much greater than can be apparent to the listener and, in this recital, he was called upon to overcome in the best way possible, and in less than an hour, the major difficulty created by the failure to appear of the clarinetist op whom devolved m” r, h onerous and essential work. In this emergency, and, indeed, in the direction of the whole programme, Mr S + ua r t as cond’m+nr. proved himself to be a musician who can lead the orchestra a long way.

While all of the orchestral numbers were enjoyable, it was, perhaps, in the Schubert Unfinished Symphony that the orchestra was heard to the best advantage. Unnuestionably the most ambitious of the items on the nrogramme. this work was presented in a most satisfying manner. The comparative smallness of the orchestra (thirtvfive players), the absence of the clarinet, the unavoidable departures from the strict composition of an orchestra all combined to make the playing of the Symphony a triumnh over adverse circumstances. The orchestra received well-deserved congratulations urmn its verv fme effort, in this well-known and much loved Svirmhonv,

A sign of slight nervousness pet;meated the opening number but this snnn disapneared and the ra-n'd’'fW of the programme was rendered in an air of definite assurance. The attacks and releases were precise and the speeds—a trouble in the earlier recitals —were much more correct. One exception in this resnect was the last number in the ■’Peer Gynt” suite, “In the Hall of the Mountain King.” The temno here was so rapid that some of the meaning of the number was’ lost. But, these minor imnerfections serve only to emphasise the excellency of the playing of the orchestra in the major part of the programme. '?/>'>'> ’’St Mr Lloyd Spears has already built a fine reputation as a singe l ’ and his appearances at this recital only confirmed the satisfaction that is felt in having, in Tauranga. so outstanding a vocalist. His selection of numbers, with the possible exception of “In a Monasterv Garden”, was in keeping with the classic nature of the programme. Mr Spears was in fine voice and he gave, most satisfying renderings. He excelled in the second group. “Mvself. When Young” and “Edward.” and in the latter achieved a dramatic success that was outstanding. His encore, the Negro Spiritual, was greatly enioved. The playing of the Trio by Mendelssohn bv Miss Clarice Ray, Messrs A. Grade and J. Spellman was Ihe outstanding feature of the instrumental part of the programme. These players demonstrated what can be achieved when unanimity pervades performance. The audience was not slow in expressing its delight in this remarkable playing. During the interval, the patron of the societv, Mrs C. B. Shaw, commended the players for their excellent performance and appealed to the neople of Tauranga for their support.