ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13768, 5 June 1908, Page 8

ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY.

CONCERT AT THE CHORAL HALL. The second concert- of the season by the Orchestral Society attracted the s usual crowded audience to the Choral Hall last evening. The programme, of ambitious proportion?, proved to be one of the most enjoyable yet submitted by this body of instrumentalists. Heir Johann Wielaert conducted, and had a good grip of the performers throughout. Among : other selections were two numbers entirely new to Auckland audiences, and these in particular proved of engrossing interest. The first of these contributions was the third movement— molto vivace— from the *' Pathetiipie Symphony" of Tchaikowski. This movement is a combination of the scherzo and the march. The thematic material of the excerpt is of considerable interest, while its skilful treatment in the orchestration again, proves the composer's skill in producing vivid effects in tone-colouring. The* strings played with refinement of expression and technical facility the opening quaver theme. The oboes, in their supplementary subject, displayed precision, while tire subsequent orchestration prior to the E major subject- presented much opportunity for conscientious endeavour on the part of the various executants. The appearance of the march in its amplified form gave the wood-wind players scope for neat phrasing in the principal subject. The brilliant continuation following this discovered the strings and wood-wind executants at apparently congenial task in their execution of rapid semiquaver phrases. The rest of this telling piece gave the- conductor. lull scops for the play of his interpretative ideas, and it says much lor the players that their responsiveness to the baton was with few exceptions in accord with leouirements. Towards the close the brass executants did good service in their rapidly moving figures, while the brilliant contrapuntal work of the strings deserves mention. The closing climaxes were developed with great force and promptitude of attack, and this movement from the famous symphony received hearty plaudits. The other new contribution was the symphonic prelude to Shakespere's "Othello,' by Arnold Krug. Here the composer seeks to depict in sound the actual happenings in the Hard of Avon's well-known tragedy. The- composition may be likened to a musical panorama, which unfolds the varied emotions and deeds which its creator illustrate*?. But few of these could be unmistakable when such a carefully annotated•'. programme as that of last night is in evidence, others there may be, which doubtless require a subtle musical mind to probe their profundities. This " programme-music ' must, however, possess an increasing fascination, since contemporary composers are so successfully grappling with its complexities. The prologue portion, embodying the story of Othellos life and deeds, opened with a wierd and subdued theme for clarinets and bassoons, whose tones accorded in fairly satisfactory manner. After its repetition in a new key, the second subject, with its elaborations and swelling tones, was carefully handled by the strings. Then came the "allegro,"' with its "jealousy" motif first given out by the first violins and violas. After further elaborations, the " Desdemona" subject appeared. This was first expressively presented by the oboe, accompanied by the wood-wind and two solo violas, and subsequently treated by the string players. From this point to the tragic .finale, the descriptive ideas of the composer were handled in a manner which displayed but few shortcomings. A word of praise is due to the clarinettists, who expressively voiced the " Farewell'' subject, and the repetition of the "Desdemona" motif in the closing bars was sk.il- • fully done. This impressive work was warmly received. The overture to "King Manfred" (Reineeke), was successfully given, . while finished renderings were presented'of the three bracketed numbers (a) " Aubade Printaniere" (Leccmbe), (b) "Pizzicato" (Desormes) —for harp and strings only— and (c) "Cradle Song ' (Schumann). The concluding orchestral number was the sparkling " Saltarello"' of Ch. Gounod, which was given with requisite verve and rhythmical facility. .Miss Phyllis Mils, a youthful debutante, made a successful appearance as solo pianiste in Mendelssohn's " Capriccio brilliant," which was given with orchestral accompaniment. . Her reading of the work, from the technical standpoint, was fluent and clear, and many of the more elaborate passages were clean cut in their brilliancy. For so young a. player, she displayed a 'tine understanding of the details of the work, and reflected credit upon her teacher, Mrs. A. W. Macandrew. : Accompanied by Mrs. K. H. Queree, Mr. Hamilton Hodges gave exceptionally tine readings of his vocal numbers, and he was deservedly recalled after each. His' first appearance- was in the three bracketed solos by Korbay, (a) '" Where the Tisza's Torrents* Through the Prairies Swell," (b) "There's on Earth But One True Precious Pearl," and (c) "Had a Horse." In the second part of the programme he gave Schumann's "Devotion." The diversified character of his numbers gave Mr. Hodges opportunity to display the robust tones of his voice, "as well as. a clever exposition of mezzo voce work. His encore numbers were. " You Love the- Time i of Violets" (Lohr) and "Violets" (Peter '■ Cornelius). I

The next orchestral concert is .announced for July 21.