THE NATIONAL ORCHESTRA

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25161, 17 April 1947, Page 3

THE NATIONAL ORCHESTRA

ANOTHER NOTABLE CONCERT

The performance of the National Orchestra of the New Zealand Broadcasting Service at the second concert in Christchurch confirmed the good impression created by the first. The guest conductor was Dr. Edgar BaintOn L w . ho fou P d ready to his hand an orchestra trained by Mr Andersen lyrer to a degree of efficiency remarkable when the short period of the organisation’s existence is considered. fsachs Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, orchestrated by Elgar was the first item. The meditative moqd of the fantasia was in contrast to the pomp and vigour of the fugue, in which the various entries were clearly defined, and which drew onwards inexorably to a fine climax. work was the Symphony c i?’ O p ’ by Brahms. Apart from J ault Y intonation in the second bar, the first movement was played with confidence and sure detail. Fine string tone characterised the statement of the first subject, and the soft tone of the wood-wind at the entry of the second subject was admirably controlled, -throughout the’ movement, and indeed the w .hole Symphony, one leit that the music was unfettered by technical difficulties. The wood-wind section had full scope for expressive P la yi n 2 in the second movement; and. m 1 third ’ the cello tone at the entry and the string tone in general throughout had beauty. The final movement was perhaps the most successful. This was confident playing, well balanced, and rhythmically vital. As a composer. Dr. Bainton belongs to the distinguished group of Stanford s pupils. His Pavane for strings was the first of three well-contrasted pieces which bear, the impiess of a cultured musicianship. There was a ad yß for flute and strings (delightfully played), and a Bacchanal for strings and tambourine which had a n duality in its interesting rftytnms and fresh harmonic resource. Of Mendelssohn’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream Scherzo. Tovey writes that it is always praised as a masterpiece of orchestration.” Mendelssohn had genius for writing music exactly suited to each instrument; and the consequence is that his work given full opportunity to the players. It is no exaggeration to say that the National Orchestra s performance of this Scherzo could hardly have been bettered

Debussy s L Apres-midi d’un Faune calls for special qualities in orchestra and conductor in much the same way as the music of Delius demands a Beecham, and it must be said that the work was given a performance of poetic beauty in which the all-im-portant tonal requirements were entirely fulfilled. The concert concludes with the colourful Dances from plaved 6 Ig ° r ’ by Borodine - excellently

Throughout the concert Dr. Bainton proved himself to be a conductor whose sensitive musicianship and restrained but impressive control of the orchestra contributed greatly to the success of the performance.