ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10221, 15 December 1893, Page 5

ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY.

EXTRA CONCERT. The extra concert given by the members of the Orchestral Society wee carried out very successfully last night at the Tuam Street Hall, and although several of tue pieces had been heard recently, they are of such an order as to bear repetition and improve oh acquaintance. The first item was Mozart’s Overture “ Die Entffioring aus dem Serail,” and wa* a* well per. formed as before. Toe lively manic was taken brightly and the time kept well np, with an appreciation for the various phases of the adventure, where the slow motive is brought in, and the following quicken* ing up at the finale. For the violin and • orchestra with Mr Wallace as soloist, Beethoven's “Romance in F" was chosen. The orchestral accompaniment was kept well subdued and legato , while the melody was sustained on the solo instrument. In this a great improvement has been made of late. The Romance is, perhaps, more often heard than the bus in G, given at the last concert, as it does not, require so much of the players. Nor is it of ; so much character, and did not give the' violinist very much opportunity for tech- . nical display, though, it was played with feeling and finish. The same master's * symphony No. 2 in D was heard again < with great advantage, and the musical director deserves the thanks of the public, A little more assistance from wood and. brass wind instruments would give n‘ - greater fulness in'parts. The first aUegr* movement was well worked out, with good accentuation and steadiness. The fine largdto, as well, went in abroad, swinging style. The answering passages in the: humorous scherzo were. well taken np on - the different instruments, and the sportive trio was well done. The grand fitidu was perhaps the best movement, the attack* all through being good, and its originality and vigour well displayed. The instruments' ' responded well to the demands required of them, making a bright finish, The whole showed the benefit of the farther

practice, 1 The songs of the first part wore allotted to Miss Boss and the Eev Mr: Mitchell, -s who also sang in the second part. In hef . : first venture, “ The Trout,” by Schubert* the lady was not at her ease, but in Goring ' Thomas’s fins song, “ A Summer Night,*, she showed a voice of considerable'rang* 1 and sweetness, and sang feelingly, with, - however, a certain fnultineas of voice pro-: ■' duction in places. For her encore she gave with still better success a gay little - ballad from Verdi's Un Ballo in' Maschero, and entered into the spirit of the song. The Eev Mr Mitchell gave m 1 bold rendering of “ Honour and Arin«,” : from Handel’s oratorio Samson. A want .. of flexibility prevented a complete success in the florid passages, though the trneness in tone and fulness of the lower notes are very, pleasing. In the second part his 1 singing of Land’s song, ’’ When Night is ' Darkest,” gained an encore, for which was ' given rather a weak composition, “Jerusalem,” by H. Parker. The second portion of the programme opened with the incidental music to Henry ■ Till. (Sullivan), the bright staccato march ' going well, and the second movement gracefully and legato, the jpiz&lcate on this ’cellos well marked. Mascagni’e Cavalleria Ensticana ” met with full appreciation from the audience, and was redemanded. It is confined almost throughout to the violins, and depends on bold, smooth, whole-bowing, with very- effective introductions of the other instruments in places, especially the flutes at the finish; It opens rather slowly, and' depends on ' repetition largely for its effect. It was exceedingly nicely played by the orchestra, > as was the intermezzo from Delibes’ “ Naila,” which opens with a dashing and vigorous passage, hardly perfectly’' mas* ' tired by the violins, and followed by a flowing melody on the mated strings, very > effectively rendered. The’ bass melody : was well sustained, with flute and oboe : answering one another. The bell introduced at the end ie veky effective.» ”La ' * Colomba ” and “ Danse dee Bacchantes ” brought the concert te a close. The, former - opened a little shakily, but went well otherwise. The second is a great contrast, being sharp and crisp, while the first if ' flowing and smooth.. The” Dans a "has a rustic and open-air swing, and wan smartly and crisply played. It is proposed to give The Messiah at the Cathedral on Dec. 20.