Concert at Fendalton

Press, 9 August 1976, Page 6

Concert at Fendalton

The Christchurch Orches-i tral Society’s concert in the Fendalton Community Centre hall yesterday drew a good attendance. The orchestra, conducted by Thomas Brown and led bv Andrew Dale, played with good attention to leads and endings, and showed admirable care for balance and pleasing tone. The programme began with a bright performance of the overture to “Don Juan,” bv Gluck, followed by two waltzes by Brahms, played with pleasing sonority and with finesse in rhythm and expression. Two movements from Haydn’s Symphony “La Roxelane," so called after a; French melody of that name which gave Haydn the theme for the second movement — a set of variations played with careful contrasts and with care for details of expression — and a Minuet

| were popular with the audilence, and made effective i contribution. Some particuilarly good clarinet playing I was heard in the minuet. Two of Moskowski’s “Spanish Dances” were played with they vigorous swirl needed. The rhythmic snap in the playing'is now exact, and has improved the standard greatly. The second part of the programme began with a Concerto in D major for two flutes (played by Messrs Fuller and Barrington) with strings and harpsichord, the latter made and played by (Robert Webster. The work | was a ven’ pleasant and ; effective composition, written with a genial and expansive style in the mode of former times.

Grieg’s “Death of Ase” and “Anitra’s Dance” from “Peer Gynt” were played with well-chosen and bal-

anced tonal colourings and with skill which raises the whole standard of this orchestra significantly high. The concert ended with “Fourt Courtly Dances” from “Floriana,” by Benjamin Britten. They were vigorous, tuneful, and roused much appreciation. Ron Gray was the soloist for the concert, and sang a German folk song and “Song of Hybreas the Cretan,” works which suited the flowing style of his excellent bass voice. He was accompanied by Hubert Filer, and together ’ they made a smoothly professional team. In the second part of the programme, Mr Gray sang “Myself When Young” with thrillingly resonant tone. “The Song of the Flea” suited Mr Gray splendidly, and he knew how to interpret it stylishly. —C. Foster Browne.