THE NATIONAL ORCHESTRA

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26262, 6 November 1950, Page 3

THE NATIONAL ORCHESTRA

PROGRAMME OF LIGHT WORKS

The first concert of a seriei of four by the National Orchestra wai given in the Civic Theatre on Saturday evening to a large audience. A programme of light works was played.

Such compositions are enjoyed for the moment, open no massive doors revealing rich beauty, and make no great intellectual demands upon the listeners. This is not to say that they should not be played, for they have their place in orchestral literature,

and an orchestra of the National Broadcasting Service must be prepared to cater for all listeners. It is. furthermore, more sensible to keep a unity within a programme and not to mix the great masterpieces too violently with the lighter works which ■hould also be heard.

The programme was advertised in advance and anyone attending Saturday’s concert who feels disappointed at not hearing weightier music has no real cause for complaint. Judging by the enthusiastic reception which the orchestra received the/listeners did thoroughly enjoy the ebneert, and well they might. While no great demands are made on the listeners, nevertheless such a programme thoroughly tests the capabilities of a conductor and an orchestra. Any irregularity in leads, uncertainty of intonation, inattention to phrasing or gradation of expression will stand out like a beacon. The performance was of a high standard and both Mr Bowles and the members of the orchestra deserve high praise for a task carried out with great efficiency.

When Mr Michael Bowies first conducted the National Orchestra here a few months ago it was widely felt that he was one who could give much to the orchestra and carry them on to a higher standard. There is clear evidence that such has been the case. There was fine team work at Saturday evening’s concert. The members of the orchestra listened intently to one another and splendid balance waO kept within the various sections and througout the tutti passages as well. In this respect there has definitely been improvement, especially in tho brass and woodwind sections. On this occasion there was no feeling of the sections of the orchestra playing in different rooms, due to the extended stage and the proscenium arch. The strings have always been an efficient body and under the capable leadership of Mr Vincent Aspey again gavw good account of themselves. Tlieir delicate and expressive pizzicato work was delightful. At times the double bass players were a little heavyhanded and inclined to lumber along without a really clear-cut line to som» melodic figures. The brass, especially the trumpets, have on previous occasions been overpowering and ot somewhat coarse tone, but kept excellent balance and played exceedingly well at this concert.

Mr Bowles directed with a nice sense of the fitting weight of tone required by the music for performance in the Civic Theatre. Although a wide range was called for from the softest whispering to Vigorous fortissimi there was excellent control both in grading aad in tonal qualities. He has his players thoroughly well drilled. The programme opened with a wellpoiished performance of the overture to “The Merry Wives of Windsor” bv Nicolai. The care with which the Introduction was played was a happy augury for the success of the concert. Tproughout the evening there was plenty of rhythmic give and take, all under a highly disciplined sense of tha ™ al . underlyinig rhythmic drive. Tha Vaubhan Williams Norfolk Rhapsody was a colourful and charming composition giving plenty of scope for delicate blending of tone. Schubert's Symphony in B flat wound out its charming mellifluous way with all tho rich melodic adornment which oo magically flowed from him. The Hol* m 3 S ™ e k y P rie f- J ll6 Tarantelle for Flute, Clarinet and full Orchestra by Saint Saens the same composer’g Danse Macabre, the Overture to “Die Fledermaus” by Johahn StrquM. and Richard Strauss’s waltzes from “Der Rosenkavalier” constituted second half of the programme. Mr J. Hopkrn--son and Mr K. Wilson played the flute and the clarinet respectively in the TaranttHe and the cohesion and flexibility of their playing, together with the admirable way in which the or- ♦& est J a in support, made this frothy little work very pleasant hearing. ‘‘Danse Macabre” was interpreted faithfully without any of its highly coloured ideas being overdone. Johann Strauss’s Overture came off well, but when it comes to waltzes Jo i? nn can beit Richard in a canter. There will be further concerts by the orchestra on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings. Very attractive programmes have been announced. On Tuesday and on Saturday Mr Justus Bonn will sing with the orchestra, and on Thursday Miss Cara Hall will play Beethoven's piano concerto in G The Brahms Symphony in E minor will be Played °n Tuesday, and the Beethoven rirst Symphony on Thursday. On Saturday a Symphony by Borodin, the Concerto Grosso in F and the concerto for Flute and Orchestra by Handel will be on the programme. Only too rarely does such an orchestral wealth come to Christchurch, and this week sho-ild be highly enjoyable. —C.F.B.