ORCHESTRAL CONCERT.

Northern Advocate, 22 July 1915, Page 3

ORCHESTRAL CONCERT.

MR L. KENNEDY. IN WHANGAREI

AN ENJOYABLE PROGRAMME.

A musical treat .such as is not often heard in Whangarei. was enjoyed in the Town Hall last night. Unfortunately, perhaps owing to th e rather boisterous weather, the audience was not a large one. The feature of the programme, of course, was the appearance of Mr Laurie. Kennedy, the famous 'cellist. His engagement showed .a public spirit on which the orchestra is entitled to no light congratulation. The. small attendance therefore was doubly discouraging.

The programme was begun with the overture "Rosamunde," which was excellently rendered by the orchestra. This promising opening was followed by Mrs G. E. Woolley who sang Sanderson's "Until." Possessing a sweet voice Mrs Woolley used her powers to good effect. Her clearness of enunciation was distinctly noticeable and she displayed no hesitation or weakness. Her rendition won immediate and unstinted acknowledgment, to which she responded with a delightful trifle "Rest." Messrs F. G. Radcliffe, A, R. and L.

T. Pickmere appeared in an instrumental trio. Their selection, Leslie's haunting "Oh Memory," was played in such fashion that they were imperatively recalled. The orchestra then gav e selections from the incident tal music to "The Miracle," played to the procession and children's dance, and to the -banquet scene and nuns' dance. * The stateliness of th e opening was very well presented, and especially enjoyable were the passages which accompany the children's dance. Mr Laurie Kennedy opened his repertoire with the brilliant "Tarantelle" (Popper). He played this with a fine spirit of abandon, revealing the master hand. The audience was entranced and, shaken out of its usual phlegmatic calm, greeted the conclusion with a storm of applause. Mr Kennedy responded with St". Saens' "Le Cygne." The. first half of the programme was concluded with the Andante and Allegro from "The Clock Symphony." The rhythmic movement which commences in the o_ffl»ing bar and continues throughout was excellently sustained, and the piece was well received. The second overture was the popular "Alceste," which the orchestra rendered with proper feeling and restraint. Mr Kennedy next contributed "Saraband, and Bowrree 1 and 2" from suite in C (unaccompanied), The'solo carries a spirit of brusquerie which calls for technical ability of a high order. Mr Kennedy had no difficulty and gave a vigorous rendition. Encored again he played the charming Aria in C. (Bach). Mrs Woolley won another enthusiastic reception with Lohr's "Eyes that used to gaze in mire,'' and Nerin's "Oh! that wo two were maying." The orchestra wer 0 delighted with the andante frox-n Schubert's "Tragic Symphony." Dignity, calm, anguish and resignation all were well expressed. The lightsome "Loin dv Bal" (Gillet) strong quintette was a sprightly item which won insistent applause and encores. Mr Kennedy concluded his evening's repertoire by playing the "Valse Triste" (Sibelius). It represents a dance of the spectres with a dying woman. The music holds a yearning and shuddering sadness which hold. the audience to the last bar. Mr Kennedy vividly realised the intentions of the composer and he was not allowed to retire until he had played the encore "Traumerei." The programme ended with Dvorak's "Slavonic Dance" played in spirited fashion by the orchestra.