THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21940, 29 April 1933, Page 15

THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The Dunedin Symphony Orchestra has never risked its reputation by offering ill-considered or insufficiently rehearsed programmes; its work, constantly advancing in mastery under the demands of its conductor, M. de Rose, has greatly enriched the musical life of the city. The next programme, which will be presented at the Town Hall Concert Chamber on Thursday evening next, is expected to be the best-ordered and most varied of the series. The works selected form an exacting and interesting bill, and the committee has also secured the services of that eminent operatic basso, Signor Lucien Cesaroni, whose European and American tours have proved him to be a great artist. Cesaroni will sing two Mozart items in the first part—- “ Non Piu Andrai ” from “ Figaro ” and “ Cui Sdegno ” from “ The Magic Flute,” and his principal solo in the second part will be “Eri Tu” from Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Maschera.” The other vocalist of the evening will be Miss, Helen E. Roy, who will sing the Habanera from Bizet’s “Carmen.”

The outstanding orchestral work of the evening will be Beethoven's serene and beautiful Symphony No. 6 in F (the “Pastoral”), regarded by many as the apotheosis of his genius. This work is illustrative of reactions to the contemplation of Nature in her milder and her more titanic moods. In the greatest contrast to this symphony stand the overture and Venusberg music from “ Tannhauser,” vital and explosive in character, and the Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 (Liszt). The latter includes an allegretto gracioso section which is generally admitted to be one of the loveliest movements in orchestral music. The orchestra will play also the overture to Weber’s “ Oberon,” Mozart’s Andante for flute and orchestra (Mr H. M. Necs, soloist), the Prelude to the fifth act of “King Manfred,” and “ Pastel Mcnuct ” (Paradis),