CHAMBER CONCERT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10107, 4 August 1893, Page 2

CHAMBER CONCERT.

The second of this series of concerts under Mr Wallace’s direction toot pices at tfce Provincial Council Chamber lost evening. Tlio programme ",<■>= g equal in merit to th< first, though, perh-.ps the longer p-ec-a wore not ao interesting to the majority of the audience. A largo body of tiio Spanish officers had accepted Mr Wallace's invitation end rers pre.-ant, and the audience was »o appreciative and huvor, if a ■■yteujg, than before. The eome' topc nv d ppo prr > t ly wto Mozart’s quartette in D Minor for first and second violins, viola and vio oncdlo, the instrumentalists being the same as before. It was a«iaia noticeable that the ladies were rather overpowered. The firat movement, allegro moderate, went rather coldly, though it is a quick and graceful movement, but the succeeding andante went much better. The minuetto, which is short bub full of character, was well attacked and was taken spiritedly, the contrast between the two movements being well marked. The final allegretto, which works back rather to the idea of the opening movement, has a sameness that does not allow of much variation, but it went well. The nest instrumental item was a pianoforts solo given by Mr Lund, who chose Beethoven’s Opus 31 in D minor. This is a concert piece of the first magnitude, and the composer no doubt intended it to bo rendered according to hie own scoring. The pianist gave an original i nterpvotatioa of the fir»t movement, the Uargo, foil of sharp contrast:! of light and shade, and also time. The adagio , bowev ii, was well play»-d and rendered, and we think the player showed a much better conception of thi • fr e movement. Mr WbLhma contributed iu the second port ns his a.Mo for the violin, a Romanza, Op. 42, V\v Max Bruch. It is a good work, though lacking definiteness perhaps. If, ig needless u> say that it was well p ayed, b’ab it does not offer the player any great opportunities for display of execution or artistic rendering. The principal item of the evening, given by Mr Wallace and Mr Lund, wan the great “Ereutzrr” sonata bv Boethovon, for piano aod violin. It was an escaliont, well-balanced performance h» the two musicians, who pfajed it with >.ppreciaVton, The opening adagio is a long movement, depending a good deal on the rendering of the players to prevent it Incoming monotonous. It wiki well given. It is in the following andante that the artist’s opportunity comes, and the tv.'o players brought out fully the beauties r'f the movement and iti central,t with the first. The theme is delicate and molodioiu, and the variations not very far from the original air. The whole movement was finely and artistically given, both players feeling what they played, and keeping each instrument duly subordinated. The piano part was especially well executed. The final presto was given with brightness, the two instruments beeping the remaining'.' aisagos clear and wall together and well meiancad. Tne whole piece was played with much taste, and greatly appreciated, deservedly so> The vocalist of the evening was Mr Hugh Beeves, who gave in the first part two songs by Sohnbert, bid “Litany” and “ Tbine is my Heart.” The former, a beautiful melody, was sung with ta<te and expression, and with greyer success than the latter piece. Mr rearell was the accompanist, and added considerably to the effect by his fine accompaniment, especially in the "Litany.” For his second Rplect'on Mr Beeves gave an aria from Tannhiiuser, but it is ha rdly a piece to be? separated from its opera, and was not very intelligibly sung, dramatic force* being required to carry off such a piece successfully. The concert quite sustained the promise of tfce first. The third will be given on Thursday week.