PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA.

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 147, 23 June 1924, Page 2

PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA.

More than usual interest was evinced last night in the second monthly concert of the Wellington Professional Orchestra. Presumably the principal at- . traction was the first performance in New Zealand of Roger Quilter's "Children's Overture," a delightful selection in rhapsody form, baaed upon a dozen nursery-rhyme tunes. Though the composer can have no claim to • originality in the subject matter of the overture, .there is,;, no doubt, .that, the scoring shows marked individuality of style. The work commences with four horn notes, which immediately suggest the well-known "Baa Baa Black Sheep," but it is merely a suggestion, and actually the commencement of a modulation which serves as an introduction to fairyland. The various themes are cleverly and melodiously treated, and the--Work has a charm ,for young and old alike. Like the parson's egg, the orchestra's performance was good in parts, but, in view of the difficulties under which the conductor, Mr. Prank Crowther, is workin the matter of rehearsals, it was creditable and even commendable One could not but feel, however, that the work merited more adequate preparation This applied also in the Allegro con Grazia movement of. Tschaikowsky's Pathetique Symphony," which revealed weakness in. attack, particularly in the cello section. .Weber's "Eater bchmoll Overture was played ' with W^'- t? characteristic "Chinese Wedding Procession" (Hosmer), and Farragoul's "Feather in the Breeze" (for strings only) appealed most to the audience, and were repeated. Tschaikowsky noisy "March Slav" concluded the programme. The orchestra was assisted in Us concert by Mr. Peter Brooks, tenor soloist,., who was enthusiastically recalled for his rendering of "Nirvana.'"'