ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY.

Evening Star, Issue 11676, 7 February 1902, Page 3

ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY.

The smoke concert given last night in the -Agricultural Hall by the Dunedin Orchestral Society by way of opening the fifteenth season will be talked about for a while by those who had the privilege of being present, not so much on account of the orchestral playing—since, to be candid, this was hardly up to the mark—but by reason of the excellence of the solo items. Mr Jago has been ringing for so many years, and has snch a number of brilliant successes to his credit, that concert-goers may have regarded him as a fully-exposed vocalist, not possessed of further resources. Ideas of that sort were quite shattered by his last night’s rendering of a song never before heard here in public—a song called ‘When bright eyes glance,’ by Hedgcock. In the key of Mr Jago’s copy this song ranges from B flat below to F on the upper line—a compass that would frighten off ordinary baritones—but this was no difficulty to Mr Jago. He sang the song with extraordinary power and effect, and the music itself took the fancy of the audience, it being quite uncommon and striking without any straining after novelty, the effects being gained by legitimate methods that remind one of old and half-forgotten standard songs of the best type. If Mr Jjgo announces the song again our musical people should certainly make a point of hearing it. The other solo that was a feature of the concert was the cornet piece ‘ Nachklange ans dem Zillertbal,’ by Hoch, played by Mr W. M. Coombs, son of Mr C. Coombs. Word had been passed round that this young player had so far profited by Lis father's instruction as to be competent to challenge his instructor; consequently high expectations were formed as to what was going to be heard; but we doubt whether any present were fully prepared for the great treat afforded. Mr Coombs is already a'master of tone and understands expression, and with further experience in public to give him greater confidence in rapid execution he will be a very fine performer. Without doubt he is the most promising debutant that Dunedin ha» produced from the ranks of cornet students within the space of a generation. His strong points are—firstly, tone; secondly, breadth without overloading or cracking. The listeners were delighted and surprised at the performance. The orchestral pieces were the march ‘ Cheers for Our Fleet,’ the ‘ Schubert ’ overture, the ‘Carmen’ and ‘(lon-< doliers’ selections, and Lumbyc's ‘ Ma Vie’ waltz. Each has been played before and played better. One drawback was the shortage in the bass. Mr Knox is a good man, but singlehanded he was overweighted in that department, and the foundation lacked balance. An occasional wrong note from the brasses in ‘Carmen’ was also noted. More serious still, the orchestra lacked accord. The players were not all watching the conductor. This is a growing evil. If it becomes much more prominent it will spoil tire concerts. We hope that, for the sake of himself and the players and the society, Mr Jna. Coombs will assert his authority and insist on more perfect subordination to the baton-