N.S.W. ORCHESTRA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17984, 9 January 1922, Page 6

N.S.W. ORCHESTRA.

SATURDAY'S PERFORMANCES.

Tho attendance at Saturday afternoon's ooncert by the Now South Wales Orchestra was commensurate with tho rare educative valtw of the feast of music provided. The rjinga of pieoes played was well calculated to display tho work of the instrumentalists to particular advantage, the programme traversing many diverse styles of interpretation. As the oonductor, M. Henri Verbrugghen, raised hiß baton to conduct the first selection, Wagner's great overture to "The Flying Dutchman," the large audience was hushed into silence, and throughout the concert the attention of even a casual listener was held enchained. Tho motifs of tho opera so skilfully treated in the ovorture included tho "curse" theme, lie message of the Angel of Mercy personified in Senta, the personification of the Dutchman, and tho song of Daland's crew. The hanging of the harmonies suggesting the swell of the ocean was worthy of tho highest praise. / Miss Jenny Cullers solo violin_ contribution in the beautiful meditation from "Thais" (Massenet) was artistic ix> a degreo. Tno orchestral transcription, of Weber's always acoeptable "Invitation to the Waltz" was fallowed with evident enjoyment by the- audience. After the cleverly-devised introduction the players submitted a remarkably clear exposition of the Swinging Waltz, with its many developments. Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody in P found fitting exponents of its stirring Magyar themes, while the graphic overture to "William Tell" (Rossini), with its great storm-picture, the "Ranz des Vaches," and the trumpet-call to Freedom, culminating in the rapidly-moving semiquavers embodied in tno thrilling March Finale, made the houso ring- with applauße on its conclusion. The dainty Gavotte from Thomas' "Mignon," and Percy Grainger's clever orchestra! conceit, "Shepherd's Hey," were firm favourites among the Bhorter pieces. Two Tscnaikowsky contributions included a finely-balanced reading of the "Andanto" from Quartet No. 1, arid the dazzling "Capriccio Italion," the latter being a wonderful depiction of the carefree melodio Italian nature- The vocal solos by Mifa Rosa Alba included that brilliant operatic feu de joie, "Caro JTome," from Verdi's "Rigoletto," and "From Mighty Kings," from Handel's "Judas Maccabeus." There was another large attendance at tho evening concert. M. Verbrugghen and his body of instrumentalists were in splendid form., giving facile and impressive renderings of some of the greatest masterpieces in music. Occupying prominent seats in the front of tho hall were Damo Clara Butt and Mr. Kennerloy Rumford. Thomas* overture to "Mignon" opened the programme, and the many beautiful ideas of the orchestration, including the harp, wood-wind, and horn mußic in tho opening part, were presented with consummate finish. The writing for the higher strings was intoned with brilliance and striking clearness, and the declamatory exploitation of the well-accented "Polacca" theme was of an exalted standard Alter the Brahms-Parlow-"Hungarian Dance," which completely carried the listener away, the skilful orchestral transcription of Alfred Hill's song "Waiata Poi" was introduced as an "extra" to the no small delight of patrons. This in its turn was deservedly encored. Such was the applause after Mr. Hill's four short pieces for orchestra, "Valse Triste," "Retrospect," "Berceuse," and "The Satyr," had been played, that tho composer, who was assisting in the viola department, had to bow his acknowledgments. Mr. Hill's style of orchestration is singularly apt and scholarly, while his employment of modern harmonies shows artistic discretion. The second part of a well-diversified programme was devoted to excerpts from Wagner's "Tannhaueer," these including the overture and the Venusberg music, the "Prelude" to Act H., and the stirring "March" from the Bame opera The beautiful Melodrame from Guiraud's "Piccolini" served to enhance Miss Jenny Cullen's high reputation as a violinist, whilo the subdued string accompaniment was a notable feature of an interesting composition. Mr. W. M. Croughey (baritone) submitted a cultured exposition' of Mendelssohn's fine articulative song "I'm a Roamer," singing his wide intervals with ease. Later Mr. Croughey gave an artistic rendering of the tranquil and appealing "0 Star of Eve" from Wagner's "Tannhaufier." One of his recall numbers, Schumann's Grenadiers," was interpreted in too reserved a fashion, and the weighty orchestra accompaniment made it difficult to follow the story at times. / 1 The Verbrugghen Orchestra Quartette will give a performance in the Town Hall concert chamber this afternoon. For the farewell concert by the orchestra, to be given in the largo hall this evening, a programme of exceptional interest has been arranged.