Fine soloists, and fine orchestra

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33462, 18 February 1974, Page 12

Fine soloists, and fine orchestra

Final judging in the Christchurch Civic Music Council’s concerto competition was made before an encouragingly large audience in the Town Hall on Saturday evening by Mr Rex Hobcroft, director of the New South Wales Conservatorium. The Christchurch Civic Orchestra, conducted by Vanco Cavdarski and led by Louis Yffer, played with artistic polish throughout the evening. The standard of the orchestra’s work made the competition possible, as well as giving much pleasure. Four concerti on end put a strain on any orchestra, and Mr Hobcroft paid tribute in his succinct, helpful, and authoritative remarks to the! excellent standard shown by j the orchestra. He said it wasl fortunate the performers had! such a magnificent hall ini which to perform. The concerto contest was now well known in Australia —"and deserved to be.” The finalists were Peter Laurence, who played the Mozart Hom Concerto No. 2, K. 417; Keith Spragg, Hindemith’s Clarinet Concerto in A; Mark Walton, the Saxophone Concerto in E flat, by Glazounov; and Vere Smvth, Arutunian’s Trumpet Con-

certo. The last two works were performed in Christchurch for the first time, which meant an added strain upon the orchestra. The finalists had been chosen from more than 30 contestants in December by Mr David Robinson and Mrs Enid Morgans, examiners for Trinity College. Quite apart from the competitive nature of the concert —and that could well be forgotten by all but the judge—the players and the compositions held the listeners’ attention very closely, as, of course, did the orchestra. We all had a delightful evening of music, played splendidly, {with compelling sincerity. { Mr Hobcroft awarded first prize to Keith Spragg, praising his control, tone, and [musicianship. He described him as a superb young player. Peter Laurence and Vere Smyth tied for second, and the fourth prize was given to Mark Walton. The competitors had been closely matched in their uniformly commendable standard; they were separated only by matters of detail. ‘ —C.F.B.