BOHEMIAN ORCHESTRA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21803, 18 May 1934, Page 12

BOHEMIAN ORCHESTRA

FIRST CONCERT OF SEASON attractive programme SEVERAL WORKS BY ELGAR As a fitting opening to its 21st season, Xsolton 1 i«i 11 Orohcsti«i proso 11 ted :i programme of ;i high standaril in the Town Hall last evening and, under the baton of Mr. Colin Muston, interpreted in masterly fashion many widely diil'ering works of considerable technical difficulty. -As a trihuto to the late Sir Edward Elgar, whose death occurred a few mouths ago, a place of honour was given to representative works by the notable English composer, and the setting of the National Anthem with which the concert opened was Elgar's, the solo part being taken by Miss R. J. Fish. A choir of 50 voices was present for the Finale of " The Dream of Cerontius," and a feature of the concert was the use Mr. Muston niado of this choir in several other compositions.

Elgar's "Dream," in spite of its rather unsatisfactory initial performance at Birmingham in 1000, did probably more than any other of his works to focus serious attention on tho composer, and no better choice could havo been made for an in mcmorinm selection than the orchestral prelude and the choral Kinalc, "The Angels' Farewell." Miss Mina Caldow sang tho solo part with her usual artistry, although the range was an exacting one, and tho general effect of the extract formed a very suitable epitome of the tremendous composition. By playing several of tho themes separately beforehand, Mr. Muston was able to crcato greater interest in tho prelude, which contains most of the themes introduced in tho whole work. The wellknown Elgar composition, "Pomp and Circumstance" march, was also given, the chorus and audience joining in tho air "Land of Hope and Glory." Notable Perlormance Probably the finest work of the evening was the orchestra's rendering of the Largo and Allegro Finale from Dvorak's "New World" Symphony. Written largely to stimulate an interest among American composers in the beauties of negro folk music, the symphony utilises several simple melodies among its themes, and of these one of the most beautiful is the "Coming Home" theme of the Largo movement. The orchestra was able to capture perfectly the pathos, the grace and the delicacy of the movement. In contrasted mood, it gave a dynamic interpretation of the vigorous Allegro, the tone .of'the brass being particularly good.

A very colourful and varied treatment was given of Moskowski's attractive suite, "From Foreign Parts." .Ranging from semi-barbaric Russian airs, tli rough a gay'and rhythmic Italian melody, to a -more thoughtful air representative of Germany, and then hack to the folk dances of Spain, Poland and Hungary, the orchestra recreated the spirit of its subject in each case. A Young Pianist Splendid interpretations were given to the two well-known concert numbers, Liszt's Second Hungarian I'hapsody and the Zampa Overture. Fresh interest was added to the latter hv the use of the choir in singing the Prayer motif which forms the finale to Herold's opera and also occupies an important place in the overture. The strings of the orchestra gave graceful arrangements of "Drink to mo Only With Thine Eyes" and "Loin du Bal." The concert introduced to Auckland audiences Master Pat Towsey, the 16-year-old son of Mrs. Cyril Towsey. who showed sharply-defined yet sympathetic touch, and a brilliant tone in his playing of the pianoforte solos. "Scherzo j n"B Flat Minor" (Kosenbloom) and Schumann's "Traumeswirren."