ORGAN RECITAL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10544, 22 March 1920, Page 8

ORGAN RECITAL

In spite, of .the. bad weather Mr Page's organ recital last* Saturday was well attended, and those who had braved the vain found themselves, for the most part, well rewarded. It is a pity, however, that Mr Pago has got- into- a groove; playing many’things, time after time, to the exclusion of others equally well worth hearing, and perhaps more suited to the organ.' For instance, it is surely too early in the year yet to hear for the second time the Third Movement from Rimsky, KorsakoS’s "Scheherazade," even if it is played by request, and oven if'it is .played, as it was, extremely well. This was partially compensated for. by the inclusion in the' programme of two now nunibcrs by Eebikdff—"Miniature." Op. ’ 30 (No, 2), and "Danse des Odalis. ques.” It certainly could not he called beautiful.' A great contrast was Glazounov’s verv fine "Prelude and Fugue in; D major,” with its noble chords and unconventional harmonies—one of • the best items on the programme. The theme of the fugue reminds one somewhat of Franck’s "Second Choral." Debussy’s "En Bateau" (from his “Suite for Strings”) and Cesar Franck’s "Choral (No. 3 in ,A minor”) are two works Mr Page has not played for some time, and were therefore -very welcome. The ' former, although very well played, loses in delicacy on the.organ. It i« difficult to tee where the choral comes in in the latter work. It. resembles nothing so tn’peh as a long and fascinating improvisation, risin"- at times to unusual heights of benutr. Claussmann’o ’ "Pastorale” Is a cheerful composition, and gave seme light relief to the programme. Wagner wrote much, wonderfully suggestive music, apd perhans none is m rt -‘e «o than the "Waldwchen,” from Act 11. of "Siegfried.” with, all . its forest , chncm._ with which the programme ended. In it/ihe organist was at his, best, and pave excellent proof of his technical brj^liancy.