ORCHESTRAL CONCERT

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 17, 19 July 1918, Page 2

ORCHESTRAL CONCERT

FOR NAVY LEAGUE FUNDS. Once more the Wellington Amateur Orchestral Society has b»en revived, and the first concert under the new regime, n given in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall, last night in aid of the Navy League Funds was full of promise. 1 Generally, the orchestra, of some thirtyfive members, was well balanced and t , attuned, but at times the brass and t wood, wind sections were apt to lag and ■» show indecision in attack. The pro- s gramme, which was attractively arrang- j ed, opened with the overture to Schubert's "Rosamunde." The opening bars were a trifle uncertainly played, but as the work progressed, the orchestra gained increasing confidence, and well deserved x the applause at the conclusion of the overture. Later in the evening the ballet (No. 1, from "Rosamund«" was -i played with plenty of spirit, and the v bracketed number, Paderewski's "Voya- ■ geur, ' was also a pleasing number, t Symphony No. 1, in C Major (Ueethoven) j was an ahibitious number, and generally t\ the ofchystfa succeeded well in giving j an acceptable rendition of this beautiful and diversified work, with its changing j moods of smoothly flowing motion, its lively colour, and senti-htimbruuh thetue n» the opening bars of the spirited finale. , In sharp contrast to this number was "an i English rural smte/'WomHand l'io.tures," i in which the- compueer. Percy Fletcher. c h?.6 interpreter! iii its three" sections the-- , gaiety and joviality of the. rustics, the U romanticism ami sentiment of an on- i,, looker at the scene, and the -boisterous i .merriment and dancing at a country * fair. . In the first ant) third movements \ the orchestra interpreted the spirit of l the music with vigour and success, but the more sober second movement was Iwss pleasing; Finally "Intermezzo" 1 ("Cayalleria -Rustieana") and "Naila" ] (Delibes), the letter by request.' were J played and enjoyed by'the audience. J [ The vocnj solos of Mr. Leiv-Barnes ; &nd JTis= Hiizel ffuller - were Welcome coritriinitinhs to the. pfogratnme: Mr. Barnes was thoroughly successful in "Danny Di-tver," a dramatic musical setting ol Kipling's. Verses, and Omar's ; fiettiiisr. of "R. H quiem." The recitative and aria. f:om "Acis and Galstoa-" and ! | "Drink t« AJe Only" were hot So well , suited tn his voice 'ant) delivery. Miss | Fuller's most nleasincr nunilißrs wfero "Down in the .Forest"' (Landon P.or.aW) and "."Despair' 4 ffltmbcrs). and lttr .rendf-'. ! timis of "I,ovei? ft Bird" nnd ">"ovj SlOuii.s t>« Oriwou PvwV-' were also Very en.fnvable. A wnrd of prn.i«e is eer- ;■ tain-ly rive to Mr. Frniik Thomas and 'Mvp.'lT. V. WoS'gaii, who pl^ytd aeeoni- : paniTtjdiTts in a very sa*isfsctofV and | avtisfcij mannei; l