MUSICAL TREAT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 229, 26 August 1940, Page 2

MUSICAL TREAT

CHOICE PROGRAMME. VIOLIN AND PIANOFORTE. A particularly choice programme attracted a good attendance of the public on Saturday night to the third concert of the season arranged by the Palmerston North branch of the British Music Society, and presented in tile Rosco rooms. Miss D. SoutheyBaker required no introduction to the audience, for 'her contribution to the i musical life of the city as a violiniste of distinction is well-known. Mr Ernest Jenncr was scarcely less known to his auditors, for as a solo pianist this Christchurch artist has earned a repu-j tation throughout the Dominion. Each has achieved unique success, and in enabling a Palmerston North audience to hear them associated in a programme which could not but appeal to the most discriminating taste the society performed a good service. I Miss Southey-Baker and Mr Jenner opened the programme with a striking rendition of Cesar Franck’s very beautiful “Sonata in A” a monumental work full of brilliant passages and j bristling with technical difficulties demanding mature experience and _ insight for their effective negotiation. 1 Throughout the four movements the artists were perfectly identified in a magnificent performance of this celebrated work, which admirably _ illustrated their mastery of both instruments. Mr Jenner made his first of two appearances as solo pianist in the extremely thoughtful “Theme and Agnations'(Op. 73)” of Faure, a contemporary of Franck, and perhaps the highest praise one can express is that he enabled his audience to discern as j much beauty in this charming and very unusual work as he himself obviously discovered. Helped by Mr 1 Jenner’s brief explanation of the com- 1

position, ills iiccucia wc-ivy me j • able to appreciate his masterly rendition of this deep piece of music with its altogether unorthodox climax following upon a succession of brilliant passages of alternating verve and, fragility. - ' A so.nata recital cannot be counted complete without the inclusion oi a Brahms composition, not the least popular being his “Sonata in G Major (Op. 78)” —a charming work reflecting his reaction to the beauty of Nature. Miss Southey-Baker and Mr Jenner, obviously experienced delight in portraying the Brahms theme, and in the final movement particularly they were perfectly allied in' conveying the innate beauty of this appealing sonata, which gives splendid scope for Die rich melody of th© violin though liajcl* ly more so than for the piano. Mr Jenner presented the Chopin “Scherzo in E Major (Op. 54)” to introduce the second part of the programme. Contrasting markedly with his earlier number, this sparkling scherzo found in him an accomplished interpreter. It lost none of its sportiveness by his delicate treatment, but rather seemed to gain in attractiveness. Not an atom of beauty was-there but Mr Jenner exploited it to tlie uttermost. .. Grieg cannot fail to appeal to a Bis-, criminating audience, and Ins * 3 f >n j ata in G Minor (Op. 13),” presented by Miss Southey-Baker and Mr Jeniicr as their final offering, was indeed warmly received. AVell it might have been, 'for both violiniste and pianist gave of their best in this refreshing and vigorous composition. Redolent of the spirit of Norway as interpreted by this great composer, the sonata is rich in rare melody, not the least in its more tranquil parts, and it proved a fitting termination to a delightful recital to which both artists contributed in equal excellence. The committco of the branch later entertained the artists at supper at the home of Dr. and Airs McDowaLl, 111 Worcester Street, when the opportunity was provided to meet Air and Mrs .Jenner, also Dr. Edgar J ord, examiner for Trinity College, London, who is ro-visiting the city. Dr. McDowall thanked Mr Jenner and- Miss Baker for the enjoyment they had provided, Miss Baker “voicing her appreciation of the privilege of playing with such a fine pianist.