FORMAL OPENING

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 31, 5 August 1930, Page 10

FORMAL OPENING

THE MAYOR'S APPEAL

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

No stone has been left unturned to make the current week's Musical Festival an event long to bo remembered, and to be recorded in Wellington's musical history, but the weather so £ar j has been rather antagonistic, and the public apparently rather apathetic. The attendances yesterday were hardly what they should have been, considering the choice musical faro provided at what is practically a nominal price. A great effort has been made to give during the current week the very best that can be offered in the way of music, and it will | not be to Wellington's credit if the public do not respond. The festival, although it really began on Sunday, received its formal opening and official blessing at last night's concert, when the Mayor, Mr. G. A. Troup, was the speaker. As president of the festival, he said, he felt a little diffident, as, although fond of. music, he was not a musician. He realised that music was an elevating force, and for that reason, as Mayor of the city, he welcomed every effort which brought men, women, and children under the ennobling and uplifting influence of music. ■ "Music," he went on to say, "is one of the fundamental things of life. It has exercised an influence on mankind ■from the.cradle of civilisation, I might even say from the cradle of the race. Music was before speech, and even in these later times music can often express what language, what words, cannot utter, for the deepest longings of the human heart can often best be expressed through the medium of music "Since man existed he has come under music's power. He felt its influence in the soughing of 't,he wind through the trees, and in the sound of the rustle of the leaves. He hoard it in the trickling and the babblhig of the brook, in the waves breaking on the seashore, also in the soug of tho birds and in the cries of many animals, for Nature speaks to us in many voices, and sings to us many aongs. Music has appealed to man not only firoughout the ages, but also at every stage, condition, and experience of lifo. When tired he has been coaxed to slsrp by its cadences. In Ms anger it has foothed his troubled spirit. When fearful it has given him courage. It. has spoken, and to the end of time will continue to speak to him of truth and beauty and love.

s. "As the handmaid of religion, music has given to him noble,, thoughts and high aspirations. It has exercised a tremendous power and influence on popular sentiment affecting peace, war, politics, and religion, often with dynamic force, sometimes even changing the course of history.

"To this great force, power, or influence, call it by what name you may, every public man must pay homage and welcome it as an ally. I do su, for I recognise that.it sweetens and enriches our civic life, and for that reason I am present here to-night to extend to the promoters and the performers the very best wishes of this city for the fullest measure of success which their venture warrants. Tho citizens will, I hope, respond to their efforts by attending in very large numbers, thus showing their appreciation. By doing so, Wellington will be the gainer." (Applause.) A MAGNIFICENT CONCERT. Though the audience was disappointing in numbers, it showed real enthusi-asm-when the first of the big Town Hall evening 'concerts was presented by the Wellington Symphony Orchestra, A few nights ago Mr. Leon de Mauny and his orchestra made such a profound impression with their presentation of Tschaikowsky's w<Fifth Symphony" that it was a wise move on the part of those responsible for drawing up tho programmes to have thii. classic repeated as one of the outstanding presentations during music week. Many of these who had heard the previous playing of the symphony rejoiced in the opportunity of renewing their acquaintance with it so soon, while pleasant' memories still lingered; and those who had missed the previous performance should have considered themselves lucky to be able to rectify such a grievous sin of omission. Tho orchestra was again in great form, and gave a thoroughly satisfying rendering, the highest pitch of excellence being reached in th'c second movement. The orchestra followed up this success with .the lighter but none the less acceptable Coleridge-Taylor "Hiawatha" suite, a very good sop to those, if there were any, who considered the symphony too "high-brow" for their liking. The five brief orchestral scenes, full of tender and persuasive melodies, make a joyoua and haunting whole, and there was no mistaking the appreciation of the audience. At a fitting finale to the concert, the orchestra played Grieg's "Homage MaTCh" from "Sigurd Jorsalfar." The programme notes quoted a well-known clitic as calling it one of the most superb . inarches in existence, and doubtless, many present last-night cordially agreed. Three items besides those contributed by the orchestra completed a memorable programme. Mr. Claude> fanner, the able 'cellist, interpreted the kaleidoscopic moods of Popper's "Concerto in G" with skill and feeling, his playing receiving rounds of applause. A magnificent vocal item was the Bach-Gounod "Aye Maria," sung by Mrs. Wilfred Andrews. For this number Madame de Mauny was at the piano, Mr. Bernard Page playing the organ, and Mr. Desmond Lavin the violin. Another highly appreciated vocal item was that contributed by Mrs. Catherine Goodson. With conspicuous taste she sang the "Aria and Eondo" from Bellini's "La Sonnambuln." An encore was demanded, and Grieg's "Solvieg's Song" was'excellently sung.