ORCHESTRAL UNION CONCERT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10126, 8 May 1896, Page 5

ORCHESTRAL UNION CONCERT.

The members of the Orchestral Union gave their first concert of the season at the Choral Hall last night, before a large and appreciative audience. The piece de resistance on the programme was Mozart's fine Symphony in E flat, which is the first of the three great works of its class, written by Mozart in the year 1788, Notwithstanding that it was composed at a time when lie was in financial difficulties, the composition breathes the very spirit of joy and gaiety throughout, with the exception of the andante movement. It is a wonderful proof of Mozart's great genius, for while he was composing waltzes, minuets, etc., for the court functions at Vienna to obtain a living, as well as other kinds of music of a better class, he managed between the 26th of June and the 10th of August to write the three greatest symphonies of his forty-nine, the E flat, G minor, and C, and the last three of the series, for after the Jupiter he wrote do more works of this kind. The symphony under notice, though not modelled on so grand a scale as the other two, is characterised by wonderful beauty ftnd power of expression, and is generally (mown as "The Swan Song.'' In his "l-'hantasie stlloken," Hoffmann says of it: " Love and sadness breathein sweet spirit-tones throughout. Night falls in purple gloom, and with inexpressible longing we follow the forms which, with friendly gestures, invite us into their ranks as they fly through the clouds to join the never-ending dance of the spheres." The symphony with its different movements is an arduous undertaking for any orchestra. However, the delightful task was courageously faced, and was on the whole most successfully surmounted. The opening adagio movement, with its solid chords, was executed with great dignity and emphasis; the intervening scale passages for the violins wore played wii'.i precision and accurate intonation, while the second violins and basses leading up to the allegro, acquitted themselves admirably. The melodious theme of the allegro was announced by the violins with great clearness, and the basses on the repeat were heard to advantage. Fine expression and quality of timbre were shown by the strings and clarinets in the second subject, while the finale was rendered nicely together and with good effect. The delicious andante received an adequate delivery worthy of the music. Much cheerfulness was put into the minuet. In the trio, the first clarinet solo by Mr. Sam Jackson was exceptionally good, as was also Mr. J. R. Hooper's second clarionet arpeggio accompaniment to the same, and hut for a little unsteadiness in the tempo, the finale was splendidly interpreted. An excellent performance was secured of Lortzinir's vivacious overture to his comic opera "Czar and Zimmermann." Selections from Bizet's opera "Carmen," admirably rendered, greatly pleased the audience, as did also u very tuneful and captivating waltz written by the late Lieutenant E. W. Mills while staylnir in Auckland some six years > ago. Mons. De Willimcff, the talented leader of the orchestra, was heard with Mr. Towsey in Rust's difficult violin sonata, and proved himself to be an executant of very great ability, He produces a rich and powerful tone from his instrument, when occasion demands it, while in the melody and soft passages he secures a delightful mellow and siuging quality of sound. Ho has also great power of execution : his double-stopping, arpeggios, production of harmonics, and facile bowing are artistic in the extreme. The opening grave movement was played with great dignity and emphasis. The subjects in the fugue were most clearly announced and were well workad out, and his liquid tone, staccato playing, and delightful phrasing in the " Chaconne" and concluding "Gigue" told to advantage. At tho end Mons. Willimoff received enthusiastic applause,' and had to re-appear and contribute the latter half again. Songs with orchestral acoompauiment were given by Miss May White and Mr. G. M. Reid. A highly interesting and meritorious concert terminated with a finished interpretation of Weber s "Invitation ala Mr. Towsey ably conducted, and as leader of the orchestra Mons. De Willimoff was most efficient.