DUNEDIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21990, 27 June 1933, Page 13

DUNEDIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

A felicitous choice by the public invited to select a programme for the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra assures the pleasantest of evening's entertainments for patrons who attend the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on Thursday night, when the " request" concert will be given. The only composition that has even a tincture of the second rate is Tschaikovsky's overture Solennelle "1812," which many think too blaring and over-coloured to rank highly. Nevertheless, it has distinct power, and is a hearty, exciting draught; and M. de Rose, it is claimed, will give it quite a new twist. Some disappointment for Beethoven devotees, whose demands would have swamped the' programme, was inevitable, but this is offset by the inclusion of the really fine Urbach fantasia on his works, which includes at least parts of the majority of items demanded; excerpts, for example, from the adagio sostenuto from the "Moonlight," the marcia alia Turca from " Ruins of Athens," the scherzo and allegro from the " C minor Symphony," German dance (opus 168), the adagio cantabile from " Sonata Pathetique," the cantata " Adelaide," and the last part of the overture to "Egnaont." Sibelius is drawn upon for two compositions, the great "Finlandia" tone poem, one of the most dynamic and arresting of such epics, and the mournful " Valse Triste," one of the most popular of the Finnish master's lesser compositions. The inclusion of the lovely pellucid " Beautiful Blue Danube " waltz will be acclaimed by all, and the florid Gomez overture "U Guarany" is already popular with patrons. Two lighter compositions by M. de Rose complete the orchestra's very arduous evening. The chief soloist, that fine, pianist, Mr Hclmuth Hoffmann, will play that masterpiece of Mozart, " Coronation Concerto," and Miss Gwenda Burt (contralto) is listed for three songs.