Rich menu of lunch-time music

Press, 23 June 1978, Page 4

Rich menu of lunch-time music

By C. FOSTER BROWNE The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, under "the distinguished direction of Erich Bergel, gave a splendid lunchtime concert in the Town Hall yesterday. The orchestra, led by Peter Schaffer, was in fine form, and played brilliantly and artistically. The music began with Rossini’s bubbling “Silken Ladder” overture, setting an atmosphere for the bigger works to come. Ralph Kirshbaum was the j soloist in Dvorak’s Cello ! Concerto in B minor, and! came up to all expectations; with his first solo entry.; There was arresting radiance) in his tone, and from that \ he never departed. Mr Kirshbaum, never sen-! timental, gave a thrilling glow to the music, and caught the Bohemian folkspirit inherent in it. The soloist and the conductor combined in a meticulous unfolding of every living

detail of Dvorak’s score. It was a performance, ■ which t.cined to leave noth- : ing to be desired. Mr Kirshbaum, and Mr Bergel and ■ his players, served “Dvorak : and the audience in a most “generous measure. The programme ended with a gloriously flowing and highlighted performance of Beethoven’s “Eroica” symphony. This was re-: ceived, as was the cello con- ; certo, with heartfelt en-1 thusiasm. It is perhaps invidious to j single out any sections of I the orchestra for special mention, but the brass and ! the horns, on whom so imuch depend in this pro-1 ) gramme, seemed in particu-I parly magnificent form. Mr Bergel is a conductor I who gives the smoothest and I most elegant directions,) never misses a.helpful point,) and leads his forces to; triumph; and in this sadly) short visit the orchestra has reinforced all good opinions,; and added others.