EXHIBITION ORCHESTRA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13485, 11 May 1907, Page 7

EXHIBITION ORCHESTRA.

ANOTHER FIXE PROGRAMME. A labgi: and enthusiastic audience w»j in attendance' at. the Choral Hall last evening, ; when the third concert by th« famed Exhibition Orchestra was given. As on the-pre-vious occasions, recall* were frequent, ; while the playing Of the various selections -wan marked by that cure and attention ta detail which have been such important tea* Hires of the concert*. Mr. Alfred Hill has evidently got together a body- of instru- 4 mentalists after hi* own heart, and his control of them is at times remarkable. Th« programme was throughout a splendid one, and embraced more than one work entirely new to :, this city. , The concert was , commenced with a telling rendition of Auberls. well-known and highly popular overture to " Maaanieilo" The. opening allegro .vivace * was attacked with superb precision, the chords being given out with- simultaneous effect and big volume. The andante, in ifieight tempo, with its suggestion of Neapolitan colour, was charmingly rendered. .The' return to the tempo primo was tho signal - for demonstrative vigour on the part of "the executants. The brilliant harmonies were played with considerable breadth, while the unisons and chromatic passages : were ' delivered with voluminous force, * l&eellent effort was forthcoming vby the; strings in their triplet phrases, and,,the- gradual' increase of the tone from pianissimo to fortissimo displayed temperament on i. the : playera' part. The : violins were particularly jrooil in their detached phrases, the quick release being a marked feature. The march motif was delivered with crisp, rhythmical effect, and the concluding pin mo*so section was taken with-' great swing and precision. Tho heartiest of protracted applause follow- i ed the termination of the overture, and th» programme '. could net-be proceeded,: with until tho demands had been assuaged. " The encore number was Millet's delightful " Loui du Bal." which was played with such conspicuous success at the opening concert. 'litis was given in such a finished manner that it was re-demanded, and a portion of the morccau was good-naturedly repeated... Coleridge-Taylor's " Ballade in A minor." the next" programme number,' occasioned much enthusiasm. It proved to be a work of surprising -'. genius, containing ■■■. some ■ astounding: - and novel effects. The general tendency of tho thematic material is distinctly Ethiopian, and tho quaintnes* ofsome of the subject matter provided an at-< ~tt mosphere of unconventional charm. i The ; (intricate orchestration - , was ,-■ handled - in. a masterly manner.. by the executant!,' and thji strikingly brilliant climaxes 'discovered-'.t&« '■:.:*: orchestra ever alert, to provide the requisite effect- The last four numbers of Cowen'e beautiful and expressive suite, " Language" of. the Flowers." concluded the first part of the programme. 'The'first ''of these, *' Th» i Fern," with its detached phrases ana melodic intervals, mad© some demands upon the . esthetic dualities of the orchestra, and wast keenly enjoyed. The second programm* selection; "Columbine." with its riotous* melodies, was given in forceful manner. Tin* elegant grace of v the .'', Yellow Jasmine" wat next delineated, and this number of th* - suite proved an easy first in popular estima- i v , tion. The subject matter was throughout - rendered in a most artistic manner, and the i intermezzo character of the, position conserved the interest. The pissicato work by the ; strings was crisp ■• and „clear., while the >S haunting cello theinc in the middle section was played with fine perception. ; The final of tho scries, the " Lily of the Valley," also received fitting treatment. ,f : ;; Tho second part of the programme opened 1 ■■'■■• with a: skilled . interpretation of Schubert's celebrated " Unfinished Symphony.", In both movements'' the ■■ resource : of :the exponents -V :; was everywhere apparent. The allegro , mode rato was marked by much elasticity of : expression, as well as technical facility. s The ? exquisite 'cello theme was faultlessly play-t j ed, while the work of: the wood: wind deI serves mention. : The horns, bassoons, and 'M I basses were equal to requirements in : the J opening of the andante con moto movement,Sf while later on, tho rapid semi-quavers pas-tiA sages by the strings were outstanding features. All through there was considerable A attention to ■■ detail, and the ; ; closing bar* v K realised a' delicate pianissimo tone quality,' Mendelssohn's overture. Finattl'ii Cave," il and Elgar's fine. " Pomp and Circumstance" 'S march,; terminated a , splendid programme. V Tho only instrumental solo of the concert, was provided by Mr. Cyril Monk, F.0.V., ■ who i? displayed a beauUfnlcantabUc quality? of w tone in his violin solo, "Meditation." from " Thais" (Massenet). 80 impressed were"hit»': auditors, that ; a da , capo was ; demanded, and complied with. Mr. John Prouse again contributed in no small degree, to the general enjoyment by :w his excellent vocalisation.. What was -pro- ; bably the favourite singer's finest effort so': far. was his delivery rof Tschaikowsky's g; "Pilgrim's Song." The vocal control dis- . played was i admirable, while the greatest > care was forthcoming in the word articula- %■ tion. In the second portion of tltte Programme. Mr. Fronse;; save such a in!*"*"* >* rendition of Sullivan's .-.-" Thou'rfc '.Passing Hence "that he was heartily encored, when he sang " My Fairest Child" (Alfred KM). A. matinee performance will he given < s by tho orchestra at - tho Choral Hall : this afternoon, at half-past three, and .the final con*/ cert takes place this evening' in: the same building. , Tho programme in each instance, m is a strong one, and the farewell programme's will include the overture to" William Tell" (Rossini), and. by: special.request, the overture ;:to ," Tannhauser",,' (Wagner), and Idsst's : : " Rhapsodic IfonKroise." , ■~..- , - Mr. Ernest J. Jamioßon,: secretary of th« ■ Exhibition Orohestra,:' asks > us ; to' state that::* prior to the close of the Exhibition several offers : vrero made . for the • orchestra to ; tour o New Zealand, but several« members only ; >*• wished to visit Dunedin;Vas the expense in*§ curred by travelling: would be far too high |: for-them to - face. --A.:' lady -f enthusiast of ''.->; Wellington (Mrs. John Prouso) ;.;, then cam* forward and said she would undertake all I the financial responsibilities' if the orchestra ; would tour New, Zealand, and ; went, so. fair, as to engage the- whole: orchestra, guaranteeing all salaries -and travelling - expenses;* ft He makes this explanation as one reason why v. the concerts should be liberally natrotjisea.' It will, he thinks, be a long time before such a combination of professional instrumental- .. ists will bo brought together again, and it : disbands after the -performance * to-night.«: The orchestra is not in any way weaker than: ;; it was at the close -of the Exhibition. »t. ;- Christchurch. , - •■ -»