CELLO PERFORMERS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 132, 2 December 1930, Page 9

CELLO PERFORMERS

AN ENJOYABLE CONCERT

Both in texture and singing in. tone, forty i violoncellos, marshalled imde? the conductorship of Mr. George Ellwood, gave a rarely heard performance at the Concert Chamber last night. Supported by a small organ, played by Mr. W. J. Prouse, this ensemble played an "Air" by Matheson and Handel's celebrated "Largo/ and so insistent was the applause of the audience, that the first number was repeated. Both numbers were interpreted with the strong melodic lines beautifully shaded and the rhythm always fluid. It was real music. Another item of distinction was Popper's "Requiem " "for three 'cellos and piano, in which the string players were Misses Lilla Hill, Elspeth Barton, and Mr. Russel Bond. This is a serenely beautiful composition, and the pjayers achieved good intonation and fine expression. All the eoloists on the programme gave evidence; of sound training "Both in their instrument! and in musicianship, and several achieved an admirable synthesis of the works they presented. If these players do not lose their enthusiasm, the orchestras of the future should not be lacking in the deeper strings. The allegro of a Boellmann Sonata was played with nice balance by Misses Gwendoline Sealey ('cellist) and Phyllis Sealey, and Miss Dora Wetton brought out the descriptive touches of Cui's "Orientale." An exhilarating' performance of Squire's "Danse Kustique" was given by Miss Violet Wood, although one is at a loss to understand why an. English composer should give a French, title to such an essentially English work. There was some nice shading in "Sicilienne" (Faure), played by Miss Elspeth Barton, _ and a j'oung performer, Miss Josie Bertie, won the hearts of all with her interpretation of "Priere" by Squire. Miss Elvira Wycherley displayed sensibility to colouring in a Caporale Sonata,- and Miss Eileen, Eliott ('cellist) and Miss Mavis Mnirhead (pianist) were fully alive to the warm harmony of a Rachmaninoff Sonata. A composition by Mr. Ellwood, entitled "Sieilienne," was played with lyric touches by Mr. Russel Bond, who showed technical resource in Moskowski's "Guitarre." Miss Lilla Hill achieved the delicacy of "Larghetto" (Mozart), and got well into the spirit of a "Mazurka" by Popper. Bantock's "Hamabdil" was feelingly played by Mr. Sam M'Lean, and another fine performance was Mr. Alfa Ramsay's rendering of Faure's "Apres un Rev." A good sense of poise and a variety o£ shading marked Miss Mavis Miurhead's playing of Schumann's "Symphonic Variations for Piano." It was a most enjoyable concert.