CHAMBER MUSIC

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 118, 14 November 1929, Page 11

CHAMBER MUSIC

THE WELLINGTON PLAYERS

Some musical ground of new interest to Wellington audiences was broken by the Wellington Chamber Music Players at the fourth and final concert of their season at the Town Hall Concert Chamber last night. Two works were performed which are understood not to have been heard publicly in Wellington before. The first was tfio piano quartet (Op. 15 in C Minor) of Gabriel Faure. Played with artistic taste and nice discernment by Messrs. John Bishop (piano), Leon de Mauny (violin), Prank Crowther (viola), and Claude Tanner ('cello), this Svas one of the most delightful items of the evening. The quartet is in admirable proportion, and the judicious length given to each movement, the happy contrasts employed, and the general treatment of the work last night could not permit the attention o£ the listener to flag.. The first movement, based on a songlong theme, is followed ' bjr a sparkling scherzo or kaleidoscopic colouring and elfin daintiness. There was some finely sustained playing in the adagio, which, in direct contrast with the preceding movement, adopts a more serious train of thought, and gives scope for intensity of expression. The finale provides a triumphant close, rising to great heights of virile enthusiasm, and suggesting a purpose doggedly achieved. The second new work referred to was a Mozart quartet in D Major for the unusual combination of violin, flute, viola, and 'cello. The flute part, which dominates the quartet practically throughout, was played with his usual musicianly taste by Mr A. P. Truda. The most notable section of this delightful little quartet was the lovely adagio—a serene flute solo with pizzicato string ac-. companiment. Three other items completed the programme. The first movement of Dvorak's "Nigger" . quartet was feelingly played by Messrs. de Mauny (first violin), Desmond Lavin (second violin), Crowther, and Tanner. The responses so cleverly worked out for the various instruments were nicely brought out, but generally,, the players could have made much more effective use of light and shade. Then there was Frank Bridge's musieianly scoring for string quartet of the now universally popular Londonderry air. There is some wonderful melodic material in this arrangement, the theme being only barely suggested until it is given out in full roundness in the closing bars. The viola part is of arresting interest throughout. A moat pleasurable evening was brought to a close with the Theme and Variations from Tchaikowsky's great trio, "to the memory of a great" artist," his friend liubinstein. This was played by Messrs. de Mauny, Tanner, and Bishop, who gave a five performance of a grand if over-long work. Mr. Bishop's artistic treatrneut of the pianoforte part was specially enjoyable. It is to be hoped that the Players have been sufficiently encouraged, both by the appreciation and size o£ their audience during their first season, to continue their good work.