WELLINGTON PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1074, 13 March 1911, Page 6

WELLINGTON PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA.

» Tho concert given by tho Wellington Professional Orchestra at tho Town Hall last evening was a notable one, if for ono factor alone, that .'i.'sclmikovsky,s famous descriptive symphony "1812" held a placo on tho programme, and tor tho very creditable effort to reflect the great Russian composer's great work llto Orchestra is entitled to more than mero thanks. Under Mr. Herbert Bloy tho Professionals havo mado vast strides in tho right direction, Ono can easily detect the assimilation of broader musical ideas, and tho performances. aro given with a confidence and degree of linish that aro highly praiseworthy. Last evening, the dcorVof the Town nail had to bo closet! at a few minutes past eight, owing to all tho availahlo space having booß occupied, even to the organ seat, which means that thero must havo been about 3000 peoplo present. Tho attraction was assuredly the Tschaikovsky number; and tho Professional Orchestra, may rely on its drawing capacity in the future. The Symphony was written to order by Tschaikovsky in ISSO in connection with the consecration of a church in Moscow, erected to commemorate tho defeat of Napoleon at 'Moscow. Tho programme not« says:—"Tho work opens with a Greek hymn tuno given out by a sextet of strings, reinforced later ,by tho woodwind instruments. This is tho prayer of the Russians for the deliverance of their country. This works up, and broadens out until tho first shot is heard, and all is alivo and moving in preparation for war. A quiet Andante movement, very military in character, follows, indicating the gathering of tho Russian troop for tho defence of - their Fatherland. This works up to an Allegro, descriptive of battle, which grows more and more terrific and exciting, and depicts the fighting in real earnest. Now through tho turmoil are heard a few bars of the 'Marseillaise' on the trumpets, representing tho attacking army. At this point comes a charming little Cossack natioual song in antagonism to (he 'Marseillaise,' but the roar of battle overpowers it, and once more the trumpets give out the .French national song. Tho Cossack sons onco more asserts itself, and is again overpowered by (lie din of fighting. Now comes the turning of the tide. The Russians are gaining the victory and tho music assumes a sequence of descending passages on four notes of tho scale, and adroitly changing the tempo back to that of tho opening movement? the clamour suddenly culminates in tho prayer theme with which the overlnro opened, and which is now thundered forth by orchestra and brass band in the form of a joyous thanksgiving. The Andante, which before signified the gathering of the Russian army, now follows as a triumphal march, and from '.ho brass instruments aro heard the first strain of the Russian National Anthem, and amidst shouts and clamour of church bells the overture ends in. _a blaze of Russian triumph." fcyen the best of colonial orchestral might well stagger in the attempt to dt justice to such a colossal piece of orchestration, as "1812." The first half is a maze of pitfalls for the uuwarv, and it was in one of these difficult passages that the first big slip was made. The clarinet had counted a bar out, and as lie was the dominant' instrument, some .if tho strings followed him. and others did not. it sounded as though there would lie :v serious breakdown, but Mr. Bloy rallied hvs lorccs, and pulled thorn through into steadiness. The response was splendid. ■lhe i si rings mid wood-winds were drlightlul in tho dance melody that succeeds Urn din of war. and tho former bowed with delightful unanimity in the long, undulating wail of cfries melody .ri-.prosoniing tho burning of Moscow) which precedes the finale. In this pari, (which was ideally done very nicely, the Orchestra was assisted by some twenty members of the Garrison Band, who played remarkably well) the brass completely cblitei'iilisl the strings, but the effect- was most impressive, and the Orchestra iv«?oivc*l a w,ell-dc.'-erved ovation, ami tho applause did not cease until an indication was given thai the finale would be re-piayed. The. Or. chestra also played Moiidclssoha's "Cornelius" March with fiiw spirit ami plenty of tonal body, tho "Raymond" ovi'i-fura (Thomas), and tho. pi-etty musical "Trot do Cavalicrio" (Rubinstein). In splendid voice. Mr. Ernest Pa.rkos tang "From Oberon in Fairyland" (Slater). "Absent Vet Present" (M.V. White), and "Sincerity" (Clarke). The itceonipnjiimcnts wo-ro. played by Mr. D. Kenny,