CHRISTCHURCH MUSICAL UNION CONCERT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12569, 2 August 1901, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH MUSICAL UNION CONCERT.

The large audience which attended this concert in , the Canterbury Hall last evening had nu reason to -complain- of the bill of fare presented, the inusio and the performance alike being excellent. The programme opened, with ..'Weber's overture to his opera " Oberon, - ' a work considered by most musicians to be the finest opera written by that composer. The overture in question .consists chiefly of the principal themes of the opera, treated in a, manner delightfully fresh and piquant throughout. The playing of the orchrstra was steady and even from- beginning to end of the number, ar.d much attention wap given to the varied marks .of expression—tlie opening passages for the horn, .followed by the muted, strings, being handled with great delicacy. The next orchestral number was Beethoven's great "Eroica," symphony, one of the sublimest pieces of programme music ever written. This symphony, like others among .the .master-pieces of the giant tono,,poet, is. pervaded, by an almost religious Ipassion and elevation of the highest type, land reveals'ih the composer an extraordinary combination of strength and tenderness, vivacity and pathos. The subject of the scherztv'" is' stated by Marx to be a "Volkslicd ; though" this, 'by other authorities, is hot considered to have been proved, 'although it is \vell known that Beethoven I often used the melodies of the Austrian i Volkslicd as themes for his work. The finale -is a set of variations on a theme (probably Volkslicd) which was evidently a great 'favourite with' the compo.-cr, as he | used it no less than four'tlmes, viz., in the I finale to the " Prometheus " overture, in a contretanz, in a set.of variations a'nd iugue for piona solo, and in the "Eroica" ■symphony. The first movement,' allegro icon "brio, .went steadily and. firmly, the conidu'ct'oT.keeping his forces well under con-while-the Funeral March was beautifully,and expressively played, allthe playier's" being evidently "influenced by the. pathetic beauty of the music. The "scherzo and trio were unevenly played, ■ several slight-slips occurring in both the first and second.:.parts. The- finale (a fiery allegro, followed-by an expressive andante, and terminating .with:'an. almost furious presto) was played finely .throughout.' Generallyspeaking,'the strings played in-tune, with crispiiess and precision, and commendable variety of tone. The wood wind was also in many places excellent ; while the brass though hot fully represented, and tympuni were,,on the whole, to be commended, though- at - : times somewhat erratic. The symphony, as "played last night, was undoubtedly the best Beethoven performance yet given "in'Christchurch, and reflects the utmost credit on the capabilities of Mr Wallace ; as an orchestral conductor. Between ' the • instrumental numbers, Miss Maud Graham "sang very effectively Pelisser's "Awake," and received a well merited encore. The . second i iarfc of the concert consisted of Coleridge-Taylor's " Hiawa> Ilia's Wedding Feast," the weird and strange beauties of the music bang done full justice, to, both by chorus and orchestra ; while' Mr Percy Denton well earned the applause he received for his effective rendering of the beautiful tenor song, " Onaway, Awake, Beloved." Mr Wallace, as has -been said, was conductor, Miss Cook again proved herself an efficient leader of the orchestra, and Miss Katie Young gave, valuable aid at the pianoforte.