David Stone Gives Violin Recital

Press, Volume C, Issue 29633, 2 October 1961, Page 13

David Stone Gives Violin Recital

There was some sense of occasion at the concert held in the University Hall on Saturday evening, when an appreciative and sizeable audience assembled to hear Mr David Stone's final solo appearance before his visit to Britain. • Mr Stone’s work in the musical life of the city during his three years in New Zealand has so far ranged over a wide field, has aroused interest in many quarters, and has been characterised by industry, enterprise, intelligence. perseverance, and an invariably high setting of artistic ideals. Beset, as every musician is. with the problem of specialisation, Mr Stone has, within recent monthes.. concentrated his energies towards solo violin playing in particular: and if puddings are needed for proof, this concert provided an entire feast of fine music beautifully played, conspicuous in that it was by a long lead Mr Stone’s most distinguished solo recital here.

Mr Stone had the undoubted advantage of being partnered by Ernest Jenner —the point being that Mr Jenner is very much more than just a pianist Combined artistry was the keynote of the four sonatas which constituted the programme. and the musical rapport between players was at all times apparent. The beautiful G major violin and piano sonata of Brahms opened the programme, both players easily and unselfconsciously swinging into a mood of meditative turbo’ence from the very outset The playing of this work was admirably restrained. and breathed a truly introspective feeling of real chamber music performance Two Delius sonatas, plaved consecutively (though separated by the interval* formed the centre of the pro’ramme The first of these. No 2 in C major, was interesting tn that it shows up the composer m an untypical mood, particularly *oward« the end where rhvthm and reins are tigh'lv held No 3 o-ovided more familiar

ground for many listeners, conveying the quintessential Delian atmosophere of basking In everlasting sunshine. It is impossible to think of good Delius interpretation without reference to Sir Thomas Beecham, and both performers on this occasion were commendably successful in playing with a wayward freedom of rhythm that at times recalled the a’yle of that unique conductor • One of the impressive features of this concert was a sense of particular style for the composer in question. For the last item. Sonata No. 2 for Violin and Piano by Turina. the atmosphere was intensified considerably; a sense of elan and rhythmic snappiness generally in the piano part, and excitement in the violin tone provided an apt Spanish background to what was undoubtedly the most smartly performed piece in the veil-designed pro. gramme. —M.H.T.