ROLAND SEXTETTE

Grey River Argus, 25 July 1934, Page 8

ROLAND SEXTETTE

VIENNESE RECITAL. The Roland, family sextette played a delightful programme embracing Viennese airs and waltzes as well as one on two weighty numbers that were excellently rendered, at thc Town Had last evening, to a small, but appreciative audience, the weather undoubtedly having an effect on the atfienflancc. This talented young family of musicians were, however, undoubtedly- deserving of better support than was accorded them last even-

Master, Max Roland, a boy of fifteen,, leading liis five sisters, presented a delightful interpretation of ihe tuneful melodies of Vienna. Three violins, three ’dellos and a piano comprise the instruments, used by the sexfetTß, aud there cun be no doubt that the strings are the best medium of interpretation for the type of music in which the sextette excels. The Straus waltzes were, perhaps, the best numbers of the evening, but the rendition of the ‘ ‘ Viennese Christmas Hymn,’’ by Gruber, was finely, done, and the first part of Schubert’s ‘ ‘ Unfinished Symphony ’ ’ was handled with an uudeastandiug and a technical standard worthy of much older performers. The sextette’s nt.mb'ers were “The Skaters’’ by Waldtcnfel; Ziehrer’s “Vienna Maidens”; the “Hungarian Comedy Overture”, by Kela Bala; “Viennese Christmas Hymn’’, by Gruber, “UnSymphony”, by Schubert; and the Strauss selections, “Voices of Spring”, “Roses of the South”. “The B'ue Danube”, and “Emperor Waltz. ’ ’

The soloists, Master Max Roland, violinist, and Miss Stephanie Roland, ’cellist, showed a rare appreciation as well as remarkable technique lor their years,, and earned sincere applause. Master Ro’and played “Sou venir” (Drdha), and Miss Roland “Berceuse” and “Pascaille.’’

The assisting arists, Mrs Cogswell and Mr J. Hadland, were warmly applauded in their two numbers, each calling for an encore. Mrs Cogswell ■was in charming voice, and hen numbers were “My Dear Soul’ , “At Dawning”, “Like to a Damask Rose ’ and “Waiata Poi.” Miss M. McSherry L.T.C.L.. was her accompaniste. Mr J. Hadland, whose accompaniement was played by Miss Broad, was also heard to advantage with his rich tenor, voice in tiwo classical numbers, “Could 1 ’Express in Song” and

“A Dream” (Bartlett). On his second appearance, Mr Hadland feeling

lv rendered Gounod’s “Ave Maria” and Toselli’s “ Serenata, ’ ’ with violin obligato by Master Max Roland, and with Miss Olga Boland at the piano.