MUSICAL RECITAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19257, 22 August 1924, Page 8

MUSICAL RECITAL.

A UNIQUE ENTERTAINMENT. An entertainment which took an unusual form was given in Burns Hall last night to those who took advantage of tee imitation of Messrs €has. Begg andiCo. (Ltd.) to spend a musical evening. The attendance was sufficiently numerous nearly to fill the hall, and that those present onioyed themselves thoroughly was quite evident. Through the medium of the entertainment the public was given an opportunity of making a closer acquaintance with the Duo Art Pianola and the Cheney gramophone, both evidently remarkably fine instruments. The selections played bv these were supplemented by songs by Mrs S. Foote, 'cello solo by Mr P. Palmer. Mr C. Eric Begg had charge of the pianola, and Mr G. Thomson of the gramophone, and each made a few occasional explanatory remarks during the course of the concert The opening item was the pianoforte solo “Raymond Overture” (Thomas), as played by E. Rapee, the reproduction coming from the Duo Art pianola and it was a perfect reproduction of the composition ‘that the audience heard. There was remarkable clarity of tone, and tne artistry of the pianist was extremely v?ell represented. Though the overture was produced by purely mechanical means, it was by no means a mechanical effect that was obtained, paradoxical though it may sound to say so. All the gradations of the melody were well presented from pianissimo to fortissimo, and crescendo passages were given in a particularly effective manner. The solo, like the others that followed it, served a three-fold purpose. It permitted the audience to hear one of the master pianists of the world, to listen to music of an elevating class, and it enabled it to gain an idea of the admirable reproductive powers of the pianola. The next great artist presented was none other than the celebrated Paderewski, whose performance of an arrangement by Liszt of Chopin’s “Maiden’s Wish” was beautifully played by the instrument Another noted world player in Ernest Rebelling was immediately afterwards heard in Chopin's Nocturne, Op. 15, No. 2, and the task of entertaining them was passed on to Mr P. Palmer, win. played two 'cello solos very commendably. In the second part of "the programme, by means of the Duo Art pianola, there was heard Alfred Cortot’s playing of Liszt’s Rhapsodic Hongroise, No. 11. and Carreno’s splendid rendering of Chopin’s Polonaise in A flat. The result in every instance in which the pianola was heard was the same—a perfect success, Mr Thomspn introduced to the audience the Cheney gramophone by first giving a selection in which John M‘Carmack was the vocalist. The solo was followed by the march “On the Quarterdeck,” ns played by the band of the First Life Guards, and a fox trot, both of which met with keen appreciation. Later the baritone. Goirorza’s singing of the beautiful song, “La Paloma,” was reproduced with very fine effect, and was succeeded by a viola solo played by L. Tertis, “Afton Water.” sung by Joseph Hislop. and “The Old Folks at Home,” sung by Alma Gluck. All were vere attractive, with possibly the exception of the last-named. M‘Cormaok was good, and Gogorza wa s better. ITie Cheney is evidently a fine medium for the reproduction of music, whether vcoal or instrumental. Mrs Foote’s songs were a romanza from Mascagni's “Cavallerin. Biusticana” and rtoberto,” from Meverbeer’s opera, “Robert le Diable,” for belli of which she was recalled. Mr Palmer’s contributions on the ’cello were "La Cinquanlaine,” a scherzo by Van Coens, a Spanish serenade, and Popper’s “Arlequin.” The concert closed with a speech, per medium of the gramophone, hy the Right Hon. W. F Massey and the playing of “God Defend New Zealand” and the National Anthem.