Enthusiastic Proms Audience

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31596, 6 February 1968, Page 14

Enthusiastic Proms Audience

The N.Z.B.C. Symphony Orchestra, directed by Arthur Fiedler and led by Alex Lindsay, began the series of proms concerts in Canterbury Court last evening. The programme ranged widely in choice, and was well received by the large audience. Mr Fiedler, whose work in similar concerts here a few years ago is well remembered, was welcomed back with stirring enthusiasm and quickly showed that he still has all his characteristic fire and dynamic energy. The orchestra responded with a will in giving the desired plenitude of decibels. Response in niceties of expression, of course, continually gave much pleasure and Captured interest.

The programme began with Dvorak’s “Carnival Overture” played with elan and with excellent precision and clarity. Placing the orchestra against a long wail seemed to improve the acoustic conditions of the hall, and details of the playing could be clearly heard. Gloria Saarinen was the soloist in Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor. Her touch had the required steely strength for the challenging vigour of the work, and also had clear delicacy for the passages of fine filigree. It was playing of heroic moulding and of unfaltering direction with admirable sense of colour throughout. The orchestra played eloquently, keeping correct balance and giving warmth and intensity without sentimentality. Provided that you liked this concerto, then this was certainly a. performance you would enjoy. The reception given showed that most of the audience liked both. Beautiful balance, sensitive realisation of orchestral colours, and the creation of an atmosphere of dignified and

intense grief made the performance of Ravel’s “Pavane pour une Infante Defunte” movingly memorable. From this point on the music became light and catchy. Ibert’s Divertissement —a work in five short movements—had much of piquant interest Wide range of dynamics and cleverly spaced orchestration giving transparency of texture, together with many a humorous and even cheeky quirk, all showed clever writing of a work splendidly suited to this type erf programme. The Nocturne had a lyric beauty and the other movements an exhilarating exuberance.

Seven extracts from the Broadway musical, “Fiddler on the Roof," were perhaps overshadowed in interest by the previous work and, although well played and containing some attractive combinations of instruments, they did not entirely grip. The programme ended with a merry furore created by Gershwin’s “Strike Up the Band.” There was sunshine, and glitter, and plenty of sheer enjoyment of life in this very happy little extract. This series of proms concerts will continue until Thursday evening. —C.F.B.