DUNEDIN PHILHARMONIC

Evening Star, Issue 17824, 22 November 1921, Page 3

DUNEDIN PHILHARMONIC

AN INTERESTING CONCERT. Signor Squariso got good results out of the playing at the fourth concert of the Dunedin Philharmonic Society, given in His Majesty’s Theatre last night. It would bo a poor compliment to praise all the doings of tho orchestra. Occasionally tho playing was loose, now and then out of tune, lint on the whole the outcome was distinctly satisfactory, and regular patrons count this conceit as one of the best in recent years. It stands to the credit of the conductor that ho maintained something like a true balance in the strings section, although the first violins were weaker ( than usual and the basses stronger (numbering five). Tho uniformly excellent tone of the brass also called for comment, and in this department the horn playing deserves to be specially mentioned, being noticeable for its accuracy as to tune and its nice relation to the other instruments. The woodwind was in great form. Tho items chosen did not give the reeds great opportunities for display, but their work was consistently conscientious, leads being picked up infallibly and the coloring duty most intelligently performed.

Most of tho audience will probably agree with the declaration that the orchestra’s highest success was in Elgar’s symphonic prelude ‘Polonia,’ It opened well, the playing compact, the players not only watching tho stick but listening to each other; and at the slow movement, started by the violas and taken up in turn by clarinet, flute, oboe, and solo violin, tho orchestra rose to its very best form. Tho successive melodics were given with tasteful discrimination, the treatment of each quite, separate in style, and the accompanying could hardly have been improved upon. Nicolai’s well-known overture to ‘ Tho Merry Wives of Windsor’ did not begin too well, but tho entry of, tho ’cellos set things to rights in tho andante, which at the end was nicely built up, and tho allegro danced along merrily, leading into a perfectly glorious finale in which piccolo cleverly fortified the top of tho orchestra. Tho performers themselves seemed to enjoy Quinn's ‘ Souvenir de Vcnisc.’ When they get into that situation they always achieve something, and so it was in this case. An exhilarating sense of gaiety pervaded the interpretation. It was light as air, but full and with plenty of body, nobody seeking his own advancement. Except for a momentary sharpness from one of the brasses, the march ‘ Call to the Fight,’ composed by Signor Sqnarise, may be counted amongst tho evening’s successes. It is a stirring piece, the Ivass quartet especially effective. Character was well observed in Rachmaninoff's solemn ‘Prelude,’ and everything was got in proportionately. The Japanese dance ‘Ke-Sa-Ko’ (bv Chapuis) was a but uneven, the flance measure given forth gaily and with an abundance of color and warmth, but tho slow passages spoilt by the want of agreement between violas and ’cellos.

An important- contrition to tins programme was Miss Mary Frazer’s playing of the ‘Fantasia in F minor’ by Chopin. Accomplished judgment governed the treatment of the preliminary march movement, and thereafter ono of the features of the performance was the exceptionally clever accompaniment playing. Miss Frazer; handled this great work in loving style, and opened up its beauties with uncommoiv skill. Being encored, this gifted Voting pianist played M‘Dowell’s ‘Shadow banco’ at speed and with delightful taste and soreness. One of the singers was Mr E. C. Service, who chose Kreutzer’s great composition ‘The Forest Song’ and Allitsen’s ‘ The Lute Player,’ and as encores ‘ The Blind Ploughman’ and ‘Break, Break.’ His accompaniments were played by Miss Frazer. He has a serviceable bass voice and sane acceptably, and would have done even better if ho had gauged the size of the theatre. Miss Molly Vickers was the other vocalist. She selected Rachmaninoff’s profound song ‘The Harvest of Sorrow’ and Allitsen’s ‘ Absence ’—both of which require very careful treatment—and supplemented these with ‘ In For ley Wood ’ and ‘ Give Mo Youth and a Day,’ Miss Gawn

went to the piano for these songs. Miss Vickers has thoroughly learned the art of. concert singing, and her offerings were much enjoyed.