ORCHESTRAL CONCERT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9270, 4 August 1893, Page 6

ORCHESTRAL CONCERT.

A very pleasing concert was given by the Choral Society's orchestra la3t night at the Choral Hall before a considerable audience, the hall being threequarters tilled. Amongst those present were the officers of the Austrian warship Saida. Very great improvement lias been made by the performers since their last appearance, which was evidenced in no small degree by their excellent renderings of most of the pieces. No less than six compositions new to an Auckland audience were submitted for interpretation, each being received by the audience with sustained applause. One of the features of the concert was the playing by the band, and Miss Reeve's (piano) of Beethoven's grand concerto lor piano and orchestra No. 5 in E Hat op. To. Owing to the great length of the first movement some eleven pages were omitted. In the vigorous and animated allegro Miss Reeve had ample opportunities to display her execution, which she did most creditably. The lovely adagio was given with great clearness, the embellishments and undulating notes were veil sustained, and firmly executed, but in the caiUibile passages her touch wa, a little hard, t'io notes not being made to sing sufficiently, and in the pianissimo she was hardly soft enough. In the rondo part Miss Reeve exhibited a fine technique, and overcame the many difficulties in the music with the Utmost brilliancy and aplomb. The orchestral part was given, with one or two exceptions, with great success. The bassoon in some of the bass in the rondo failed to play tin; part, and a little unsteadiness was noticeable in the chord passages ; but on the whole the executants played with earnestness and to good purpose. A favourable impression was made on flic audience, who applauded with vigour at the finish and recalled Miss Reeve. Mendelssohn's Liederspiel.op. 89, Heimkehr-ausder-Frcrade (Son and Stranger) received a fine performance. The strings exhibited a fine body of tone, and most effective was the wood-wind accompaniment to the brass instruments and the various shades of expression were given with sweetness and delicacy. The spirited and fascinating prelude and Sicilianiafroml'ietroMascagni's opera " Cavalleria Ruaticana" proved very interesting, owing no doubt to the popularity of the opera in England and on the Continent at present. The music is extremely effective, picturesque, and melodious, and at once found favour with the audience. Ample justice was done to tho beautiful scoring by the band. Very effective was the playing of the oboe and bassoon, and the difficult horn solo by Mr. Craig,' jun., to the pizzicato accompaniment of strings was most successfully rendered. Equally meritorious was tho splendid volume of sound produced in the fortissimo parts, and the forced emphasis on the accented notes. At the close tho interpretation given by the baud elicited warm approval from a delighted audience. In the Ahs Aller Herren Lander, by Moszkowski the Dcutsch movement dragged somewhat, but in the Hungarian air the orchestra were more resolute, and played with great vigour. The wood-wind were extremely pleasing, and the piccolo solo by Mr. Alf. Ellyett shone out most clearly. The piece was loudly applauded. Two beautiful numbers of considerable charm, and musicianly effects from the pen of the German composer Latann, " VViegenlied," and a pizzicato Gavotte, were interpreted most daintily, with finished and delicato expression and just phrasing. Suppe's overture to Fatanitza was croditably rendered, Miss Reeve appearing successfully as tambourinist. An attractive orchestral movement, "Souvenir de Vienne," by the Spanish writer Granado, finished the programme, in which special features were the playing of Mr. F. Grillin, trumpet ; piccolo, Mr. Ellyett; and Miss .J. Reeve, castagnot-. Miss O'Sullivan made a very favourable impression on this her first appearance. She possesses a soprano voice of pleasant timbre, full and sonorous in the upper notes but in the lower part partaking of a thinner tone ; she articulates well, and sings with taste and power. Millard's ballad and the solo, "1 Built On a Rock," from Princess Ida (Sullivan), were solos well suited for the executant's voice, and were both delivered excellently. At the closa of each she had to reply to well-merited recalls. Ilerr Valdemar Unmack chose as his solo numbers the .stirring and picturesque aria from "Carmen" "Toreador Attento," and the celebrated buffo solo "Largo al Factotum," from Rossini's " Barber of Seville," and gave general satisfaction. Herr Carl Schmitt conducted with indefatigable energy and consummate skill. The orchestra consisting of 33 executants was successfully led by Mr. Kent, and as principal of tho second violins Mr. R. Yates did good service.