SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Evening Post, Issue 60, 11 March 1936, Page 6

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

NEW SEASON OPENS

'.The Wellington 'Symphony Orchestra I began its seventh season at the Town Hall last night with a well-arranged and generous programme of music. Mr. Leon de Mauhy conducted, and the concert was opened with the still popular overture to "Zampa." The principal numbers were Haydn's "Military Symphony" and Sain t-Saens's concerto, "Africa," for pianoforte (Miss Valeric Corliss) and orchestra. ;

■ The - performance of the Symphonywas sound, even in quality, and conscientious, and it was greatly, enjoyed by the" audience."' Applause was hearty and sustained at the conclusion of the work. It was evident all through the performance of this work that this able .conductor. and his orchestra had paid particular attention to the workings of the vigorous and copious mind of Haydn. At times, and especially in the second movement, the strings were excellent, and some effective work was done by the horns. ..It-was in the second movement', too," that the horns and brass generally acquitted themselves with distinction. The jocund and lively fourth' movement brought a very fine performance to a fitting close. The "Africa" pianoforte concerto, a most exacting Avork for the solo pianiste,' proved a highly acceptable number. It is.'Unmistakably Eastern (or Northern "'African) in character, and suggestion, imparting at times a sense of the Orient (its smells excepted) in noise, especially in passages allotted to the oboe and instruments of percussion, and conjuring up pictures full of colour and movement and here and there hints—by no means narrow—of that Gallic gaiety and -humour rarely ever entirely absent the work of Saint-Saens—not even from his "Danse Macabre," which was also played by the orchestra during the evening, and proved a'great success. Miss Corliss gave a spirited and. discerning rendering of her part; in the "Africa*1 concerto, and the orchestra deserved the praise of its conductor, in addition to that it received from the audience, for its competent performance. Miss Ava Symons was leader of the:orchestra, r Something in the nature'of a modern novelty was the .inclusion in the programme of Percy Grainger's arrangement o* a simple little1 Danish folk melody, "Lord Peter's Stable Boy." With that melody some amazing things in the way of orchestration were achieved, and there were three pianofortes engaged in it (played by Madame Evelyn de.Mauny, Mr. Frank Crowther, and Mr. J; Magill), also the grand organ (played by Mr. Lawrence Haggitt). The work is nothing if not modern in•" distinction to and in contrast with the Haydn Symphony. It proved wholly acceptable to the audience, which clamoured for its repetition, which was done. Reference has been made already to the "Danse Macabre," and the musicianly manner in which the solo passages for violin, harp, and other instruments!—not omitting the xylophone—were treated. The concert was concluded with the Delibes ballet music, "Sylvia," the pizzicato and slow waltz movements being exceedingly wel) played.

So the new season of the Wellington Symphony Orchestra began. Those who felt it a pleasure as well as a duty to.be personally present at the -first'concert of* the. season had a foretaste of the generous musical fare the orchestra can and will provide, given the public appreciation and support it has a right to expect.