Audience Thanks Mr Matteucci

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32015, 16 June 1969, Page 14

Audience Thanks Mr Matteucci

The main interest in Saturday evening’s orchestral concert in the Civic Theatre was having Vladimir Ashkenazy as the soloist in Brahm’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat. As a preliminary item to this the N.Z.B.C. Orchestra, under Mr Juan Matteucci’s direction, and with Mr Alex Lindsay as leader, played Weber’s “Overture to Oberon” which began in idyllic mood and then burst into all the excitement of the chase, with tender melodies, will-o’-the-wisp flights of faery fancy, and high-toned chivalry, all - pleasantly blended and very well presented. Mr Vladimir Ashkenazy is one of the most highly talented pianists in the world, and his performance of the Brahms B flat concerto (together with the work of the orchestra) was something for listeners to hold in very high regard indeed. His touch can have astonishing power, and his strong flnger-work ensures a brilliant clarity. Sweeping arpeggios flew like showers of sparks, and clusters of quick sounds cascaded with iridescent gleam. His singing tone in cantabile melodies had a delicate bloom. In addition to the many delicate and tender phrases heard in the first movement, the prevailing

mood was of the grand manner brought off with eclat The orchestra played with full realisation of majestically rounded tone and of the heightening of climaxes demanded in the first and second movements. Strong exuberance of spirit, and chords like Jove’s thunderbolts flashed forth in the scherzo. There was a mellow beauty in Mr Simenauer's cello playing in the third movement. The piano's entry seemed to breathe thanks for the loveliness of that beginning, and so much of the movement had an exquisite and soothing tranquillity. There was pastoral joy in the last movement, brought fully to life in gay rhythmic patterns and in the vital tonal values and expressive changes. This whole performance was a tour de force creating an atmosphere of crackling electrical excitement in the audience who burst into cheers of appreciation and gave the pianist, the conductor, and the orchestra a prolonged standing ovation. Such excitement is not very often experienced here. Nevertheless, there was also great enthusiasm expressed at the end of the Symphonic Fantastique by Berlioz which was played in the second part of the programme. The orchestration of this work is remarkable; and strange, luscious, brilliant, and gossamer effects are produced .in profusion by the special combinations of instruments. Great climaxes of theatre-shaking intensity of sound and clear pianissimi passages demanding the closest attention io be heard at all, kept the audience’s attention at its keenest level. Opinions could differ widely on the worth of the content of the music so orchestrated, but it has a programme —the composer’s own—which reads rather like “The Rake’s Progress”, and much would depend on one’s personal appraisal of the Rake. Was he an exciting person or a blatant bore? With the performance of this work Mr Juan Matteucci bade farewell to us as Conductor of the N.Z.B.C. Orchestra—a position he has filled with distinction during the last five years. The playing we heard, demanding such wide orchestral resources, was a fitting tribute to Mr Matteucci's continued and successful strivingjo increase the size of the orchestra, so that big works should be given an adequately balanced performance. For that, and for many very happy concerts under his direction, the audience gave him resounding appreciation. —C.F.B.