MUSICAL UNION.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14523, 27 November 1912, Page 11

MUSICAL UNION.

Tho overture to "King .Stephen," tho most joyous of Beethoven's overtures, with its two Hungarian airs, finely blended in glittering instrumentation, formed tho first and weakest of tho Musical Union Orchestra's contributions to last night's programme. Rythm and caprice of Eastern music are rarely quite understood hy our iroro soberly-balanced minds. In addition, tho movement counts much upon the splendour of tho brass, that, in its turn, is apt to drown a numericailyw<uk body of strings, such as of lato ours unfortunately has become. In theso circumstances the result was unsatisfactory and inevitable. As regards expression and sympathetic treatment the performance of the lovely "Larghetto" from Beethoven s tiecond Symphony, stood highest. The pretty ballet music by Lassen would havo gained by "more daintily instilled nuances of tone. The "March of tho lioyards'" wa* faithfully rendered, but ended somewhat weakly. In the Concerto, tho accompaniments were well played, except for a delayed entry and in the ! parts where tho pianissimo passages ot 1 tho piano demand the utmost delicacy Iby tho Orchestra, which, with Miss I Packer as leader, was ably conducted by Mr W. B. King. The vocalist of tho concert, Mrs Law ford Reeves, still lacked the confidence that is so tardily gained by many singers facing a largo audience. Her well-trained voice has a quality, indeed a charm, so often missing in moro powerful organs, her enunciation is clear but for some imperfectly conveyed final consonants, tho interpretation tasteful and refined. But there is also a tendency towards a too uniform mode of expression; ono could hardly surmise that in Gluck's fine Aria a "passion is in her glowing," or that "Rapturo and Bliss" fall to her share. Tho prevailing character of the beautiful "Gipsy -Jongs," by Dvorak, tends certainly towards sentimentality, but there" aro bright strains requiring adequate accents. Even in music thero revs? bo light and shade. And now and then occurred the very slightest deviation in pitch, just as if tho piano accompaniment wero not properly heard hy tho singer. Ihe encore song by Robert Franz just suited her to perfection. Of all tho existing concertos for tho piano, not ono has been as often performed as Mendelssohn's "O minor Concerto," its bright vivacity and melodious attractiveness appeals even in theso days of technically more astounding productions: tho brilliant parts, as well as the filmy elegance of many passages, are a grateful task to an accomplished performer. Miss Rinia Young was somowhat flustered at first in the opening movement, but soon recovered herself, giving particularly tho Andante with grace nnd delicacy, and playing the Pinalo with fino spirit and brilliancy of execution, earning well merited applause and many favours. Like at her first appearance, Miss Eva Pascoe impressed her hearers by the rich and mellow tone she drew from her instrument, by tho earnest, emotional manner of her playing in Gounod's Aye Maria," well accompanied hy Miss Barker and Mr Adley, and even '" . a higher degree she succeeded wren Wioniawski's "Romance" and its impassionate demands. From the Schumann Quintet tho first two movements wero presented by Mrs Guthrie, and the Misses Irene Morris, Vera A'Court N. Mclntyre, and Rima Young. The work.which is ono of the gems of modern chamber music, was last heard during the Exhibition, and its resurrection even in part by these ladies J«>t only is to be. gratefully acknowledged, but the careful preparation and thoughtful manner of its production deserve tho warmest praise, the fine tono of tha "Cello" to be specially commended. They must be hard to please who did not leave tho concert spins lasting impressions of.tine', music given "by able "exponents"? !