Memorable Concert By Pianist And Civic Orchestra

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30760, 26 May 1965, Page 18

Memorable Concert By Pianist And Civic Orchestra

Because Professor Ritchie is unwell, Mr Juan Matteucci very kindly came to the assistance of the Civic Orchestra Foundation and conducted the Civic Symphony Orchestra in last evening’s concert in the Civic Theatre. Thanks must be given to him, and to the Broadcasting Corporation, which so readily made him available, for this timely and generous help.

It is always a pleasure to have Mr Matteucci with us. and it was an honour for our orchestra to have him as conductor—an honour which we hope will be granted us again and again. The programme began with impressively full and firm tone in the opening chords of Beethoven’s “Egmont” Overture. These were followed by attractively lyric tone from strings and woodwind leading to the exposition of the main thematic material. Wellgraded crescendi and deftlyconveyed nuances, climaxes with resounding tonal verve and neat precision with confident cohesion all combined to give an impressive and moving performance. Mr Fou Ts’ong was the soloist in two concertos—the Mozart C major. K. 503, and the Beethoven 4th in G. He is a

pianist of high distinction having rare gifts of sensibility and of technical accomplishment. His playing is so relaxed and yet has the strength of finely-tempered steel. There is always complete clarity in the most complicated passages, and there is musical thought and elegance behind his playing of even the simplest phrase. His solo recital on Thursday evening should be a rare delight. It is hard to understand why the Mozart Concerto in C is not heard more often, for it is an entrancing work of beautiful design and proportion, never failing to shed a gracious radiance. Both Mr Fou Ts’ong and the orchestra gave an integrated and lovely performance, marked by neat phrasing and shining bloom of tone. Mr Fou Ts’ong’s rippling touch gave pellucid line with high points of light balanced against reposeful shadow. Within proper stylish limits of dynamic range he produced enchantingly expressive effects in playing of deeply poetic nature. The second movement was reflective music for the most part, thrown into relief by firm and scintillating figurations. The rondo gave a fiesta’s joy and celebration with entranc-

ing highlights darting hither and yon in mounting brilliance, coalescing and dividing under superb control. Inspired by Mr Matteucci’s understanding leadership and by the glistening polish of Mr Fou Ts’ong’s playing, the orchestra rose to great heights of technical skill and artistic response' in both concertos. All the hard work of preliminary preparation which Professor Ritchie had given to the players brought rich reward in a memorable and outstanding concert. The Beethoven 4th Concerto began in calm serenity, and then unfolded its messages of confidence and inner intensity, now with the sparkle of gems and then with great flames giving off dazzling colours. There was appreciation of architectural grandeur, poetic sensitivity, spiritual discernment, and enjoyment of nature’s wonders in this grand performance of a familiar but evernew work. Every moment brought its thrills.

There was a large audience to enjoy this concert, which unquestionably marked a most praiseworthy and astonishing advance in our young orchestra’s achievements. —C.F.B.