Concert to treasure

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34105, 18 March 1976, Page 18

Concert to treasure

The Town Hall was filled last evening for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra’s Beethoven concert, under the distinguished and discerning direction of Sir Charles Groves. The orchestra was artisitically led by John Chisholm. The programme began with the “Prometheus” Overture. Brooding and threatening chords were followed by charming texture of sound in the speedy and exciting music which followed, coming with biting and vigorous impulse, and ever-changing

and rich sonorities. It was dramatic playing, commanding attention throughout its course, and the performance was stylish, suave, and imaginative. Sir Charles has fine rapport with the players, and they gave him disciplined and full attention.

Peter Frankl, Gyorgy Pauk, and Ralph Kirhbaum were the soloists with the orchestra in the Concerto in C for a very long time. The Orchestra. This was a performance deserving to be remembered with gratitude for a very long tide. The orchestra began with rich tone, mellow with fruitful promise. Mr Kirshbaum’s glorious singing tone made

the first solo entry a thrilling experience. His cello is a magnificent instrument and is played in complete accord with its virtues. Mr Frankl’s piano playing showed superb control of vital tonal colouring and Mr Pauk’s violin gave us silvery tone with immaculate polish and shine. Together with the orchestra, these players gave us joyful and expansive music and excitement grew continuously as the first movement unfolded so graciously. The ethereal beauty of the cello melody at the beginning of the second movement cast a magic spell on the audience. The matching sounds from piano and violin made this movement a treasured experience. The final movement abounded in colour and beautifully shaped graces; and the soloists and the orchestra were rightly given tumultuous applause. Miss Beverley Bergen sang the aria, “Ah, Perfido.” Her voice has true operatic timbre, used with controlled power, giving clear texture. She gave an impressive performance in which she created atmosphere, aroused sympathy, and made the story convincingly alive. The orchestra, excellently balanced, played with poised expression and with strong feeling for dramatic situation.

The concert ended with the Symphony No. 4 in B flat. It began with impressive expectancy, suggesting the slow unfolding of heavy brocades, and after that introduction gave us music of bonhbmous spirit, suave and cheerful. Sir Charles directed with the clearest sense of purpose, and clrose admirable tempi and dramatically graded expressive levels. There was a lovely autumnal glow in the second movement and the finale was an exciting tour de force. There ate three more orchestral concerts to come in this festival period and they yield a plethora of lovely offerings. —C; Foster Browne