EROICA CLUB

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27501, 8 November 1954, Page 2

EROICA CLUB

SECOND CONCERT OF SEASON An Eroica dub concert is always an encouraging event for those who have at heart the cultural development of New Zealand, for it provides opportunity to hear talented young performers who have been given the rare privilege of expert training. Christopher Gray opened the club’s second concert at the Repertory Theatre on Saturday evening with Mozart’s Rondo in A minor, K5ll. He is still a school boy. but he made a musician’s choice. The obvious development of his talent is the result of fine teaching and conscientious study.

Margaret Nielsen’s musicianship is wide in range and highly promising in quality. Her playing of Beethoven’s Sonata in E major, opus 109, revealed an understanding mind, and an adequate technique gave it easy expression. There was an occasional stridency in the prestissimo section; but elsewhere, and especially in the variations, the tone was good at aU dynamic levels. Where the fashion of the moment sways judgment, there is a tendency to decry Tchaikovsky, but a discriminating audience welcomed the five pieces which Alison Edgar grouped in interesting order and played faultlessly. The composer here has worthwhile ideas which his craftsmanship enable him to express to perfection. In spite of a recent indisposition and its effect as shown in one or two hesitancies, Jennifer Barnard gave an

impressive performance of the Brahms Variations and Fugue on a theme of Handel. The work makes great demands upon, the player’s musical understanding and technical powers, but the standard of Miss Barnard’s playing revealed high present attainments and gave bright promise for her development. Among the features to be specially commended in her work are the qualities of tone and tonal contrast

and a good rhythmic sense. The splendid fugue at the end was played with verve, and something had been kept in- reserve for the fortissimo climax of the final page. None of these young pianists exploited the range of tone better than Caroline Lili did in Faure’s Impromptu No. 2 in A flat. Her’s was a most pleasing performance of this colourful and pianistic work. Aline Studholme entered into the spirit of the unaccountably neglected Medtner’s music and gave this composer’s “Conte” a satisfying interpretation.

Brian Falloon is making noteworthy progress. His playing of the Chopin Ballade in G minor had youthful tenderness as well as youthful fire; and he passed unscathed the technical danger spots where at least one pianist of international repute has been known to fail.

The club’s president (Mr Ernest Empson) provided exemplary models in his accompaniments for the . two singers, Murray Hunter and Heather Smith. It is always a pleasure to listen to Mr Hunter. He sings with artistry, and one can hear his words clearly. Selecting two Mozart items he gave a particularly attractive performance of “When You Find a Maiden Charming.” One of the outstanding memories of the whole con-

cert was Miss Smith’s singing of “Oh That, It Were So,” by Frank Bridge, the last of a group of four songs which began with “Silent Noon” (Vaughan Williams) and passed with a crescendo of musical interest through two examples by Armstrong Gibbs to Bridge’s impassioned utterance. An occasional lack of definition in consonants was noticed. —V.G.