THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Evening Star, Issue 21745, 13 June 1934, Page 11

THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

CONCERT NEXT WEDNESDAY ,In the full stream of symphonic traditions is Rimsky-Korsakoff’s symphonio suite ‘ Scheherazade,’ which will be the chief item presented in the programme ! of the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra at the Concert Chamber nest Wednesday evening. It is as complex and ambitious a work as the orchestra lias essayed, making the largest demands both on artistry and virtuosity; and assuming the successful performance predicated in the rehearsals the orchestra will have a substantial claim to priority so far. as New Zealand is concerned. ‘ Scheherazade ’ is composed in the noble style, with, much variety of orchestral effect, and it sounds the depths and shoals of passion. The musical content is based upon the legend of. the Sultan, who, deeming all women faithless, had sworn to .kill each of his wives after the first night, but was turned from his purpose by the Sultana, Scheherazade, who tells him tale after tale for 1,001 nights. The stories told are tho thematic material of the suite, and embrace the whole adventure of Sinbad, familiar to all youth—at any rate .of the pre-jazz generation.. The suite opens with a harp-like theme suggestive of the teller of tales, and this theme recurs at intervals to thj finale—the woman has the last word. The musio throughout is interesting and effective, and the well-known festival and storm themes of the fourth movement (allegro molto) are developed with great skill and dramatic elan. This is a real “ programme ” number, assured of popularity. . . Of equal interest is the inevitable Wagner item —the preludes to Act 1. and Act 111. of ‘ Lohengrin.’ The first, although taken “piano” almost throughout is. dazzlingl brilliant; the .second, a fine chivalric march theme, mounts to the hH'dits of orchestral splendour. The other compositions listed are Mendelssohn’s ‘ Schcrza '■ (opus 16, No. 2), Godard’s ‘Adagio Pathetique,’ the gay and rollicking ‘ Gopah ’ of Moussorgsky, and excerpts from the ever-popular ‘ Cavalleria Rusticana.’ The instrumental soloist will be Mrs B. R. Nees (Miss Koa Oliver). who will play with the orchestra the bri|Hant and effective ‘ Symphonjc Variations * of Cesar Franck; while Miss Florence Pacey. the vocalist of the occasion, will sing the valso song from ‘ Romeo and Juliet* (Gounod). Zardo’s ‘To the Angels,’ and Bantock’s ‘ Lament of Isis.’