SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16701, 9 December 1919, Page 8

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.

For the third conoert of their seaeon lost nijht the Symphony Orchestra, oonductcd by Mr Alfred Worwley, had provided a very nice programme. Their patrons wcre evidently not afraid of wet feet as much as a large fraction of their string-players, for the Choral Hall was fairly filled with listeners. A very well written and clevcrly soorcd overture to Itichard 111., by Edward German, stood at tho head of the orchestral programme, and turnoi out one of tho boat played numbers, ensemble effocte, which prevuil in it, being in their favour. Tho selection of two movomcnta from Beethoven's Bth Symphony can only bo commended, but with the low violins available it must have given Mr Worsloy not a little concern, for tho orchestra of lloothovcn's symphonic schcmo lolios largely upon a well-furnished stringbody. Under these disabilities, tho orchestra succeed*! vory fairly in obrorving stylo and oharacter of tho movements, but in the "Allegretto Scberzando" moro than in the triumphant "Allegro Vivace." Three numbers fiom Cowen's graceful "Language of Flowers" opened tho second part, "Daisy" and "Lilao" taking tho load in merit of performance. Jamefsl's very pretty and popular "Prae'udhim" mw presented in pood form, and suitably onoored, and Elgar'a fine military march, "Pomp and Circumstance," concluded tho conccrt brightly.

Far so ascetio a body it implied a flagrant inconsistency, to call upon Mips Vera Mitchell to rppeir is soloist at tbeir ooncert. But Miss Mitchell maffnanimotwdy responded, and -luckily for t.Hose who derived plcasuro from hearing hor. She showed again a marked preference for tho old masters. Pram a Concerto by Tartini, a creat violin -virtuoso of tho 18th century, otill influencing by hia "Art of Bswing modern violin playing, but little known an composer in our days excent by hia "Devil's Trill Sonata." Mis* Mi'chell played two movements, the benutiiul "Grave" offering her a fino opportunity for displaying brendth aid rceonanco of tone, and a fine pathos: the " Allegro" for florid and deztertrus execution. Shorter »o!o numbers "-ore piven <-f Purcell'a, Handel's, and Ccrvotto's ort, and all tend- d to confirm tbo vory favourable opinion expressed from her fiwt pnblic cpj>esranca A verj chmruin? "Londonderry Air" as one of the encores doa?rree special mention, lliss Y"ra Mitchell was dircreetly accomnanied by the orch in the Tartini Concerto, and tas'efnlly and efficiently by Mi-a Mitcholl in the bracketed numbers.

As vocsiiat introduced Miw Airno" Richardson, and fonnd warn approval. Her voice is rich, resonant, and very fympnthetic. Sin soup wi<h fnsto and pood cxpi*srjon eonjrs by OlHver, McDerraid, Liddlo, nnl th« lnvely "Spirit Fowcr" by Camp-bcll-Tiiton, ynppori«d also by a eistcr'a helpful accompanimont.