INFORMAL RECITAL

Evening Star, Issue 21570, 16 November 1933, Page 6

INFORMAL RECITAL

MB CHAMBERLAIN'S INTERESTING PROGRAMME Mr Ronald Chamberlain, the wellknown Trinity College examiner, renewed his acquaintance with a Dunedin audience in an informal recital in Beggs’ concert chamber last night. Mr Chamberlain established a sense of intimacy at the very outset, the happy informality of the evening making the recital extremely enjoyable. In concerts such as this, Mr Chamberlain docs not tie himself to a set programme, and there is much to be said for that preference. As he explained, lie prefers to select works at random and play what he feels inclined to play at the particular moment—a very desirable procedure often rendered impossible by the formal recital. Such an atmosphere,” he added, “is the true atmosphere for pianoforte music.” an opinion that the audience warmly endorsed. Mr Chamberlain opened with a Schumann group, the ‘ Romances in E Flat Major and P. Sharp Minor,’ and the first two movements from the ‘ Kreisleriana.’ He then turned to Chopin, and played the * Ballade in A Plat ’ and the ' Nocturne in E M ajoiv The Bach representation was the ‘ Fugue in G Sharp Minor ’ and three movepicnts from the ‘ Partita in E Minor.’ The Beethoven Sonata in E Plat Major’ preceded a modern group composed of a Debussy prelude, two Scriabin studies, the Saint-Saens ‘ Toccata in P Major,’ and two of the recitalist’s own works. ‘ The North Wind ’ and ‘ The South Wind.’ Air Chamberlain offered a happy introductory analysis of his music in each case, his subsequent performance providing a lucid exposition of the contrasting qualities dominating the conception and structure of many pleasantly differentiated works. He played fluently and with facility, and demonstrated an extensive knowledge of pianoforte literature., and a thorough command of the instrument. ..