PIANOFORTE RECITAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23045, 23 November 1936, Page 6

PIANOFORTE RECITAL

MRS OLIVE CAMPBELL'S ARTISTRY The position which Mrs Olive Campbell holds in musical circles in Dunedin is an enviable one, her mature artistry and advanced pianistic skill having kept her in the forefront of local executants for a number of years. Dunedin musiclovers were afforded an excellent opportunity of familiarising themselves with her art on Saturday night when Mrs Campbell presented in Begg's Concert Chamber a pianoforte recital which not only contained works of exceptional interest, but also gave an excellent insight into the breadth and scope of her musicianship. It was an exceedingly enjoyable recital and Mrs Campbell received unmistakable expressions of appreciation from an audience which was at once critical and perceptive. Mrs Campbell opened the programme with a finely controlled interpretation of Rummel's arrangement of the Bach Choral Prelude " Blessed Jesus Here We Stand," the dignity and measured cadences of which were admirably represented. In contrasting style was the Bach aria, "My Heart Ever Faithful," a joyous composition which was played with attractively rree spirit. An exhausting demonstration of technical skill was provided in Weber's brilliant "II Moto Continuo," a melodious rondo which was played at a headlong pace, and which disclosed no flaw in the performer's executive or interpretative accomplishments. Glazounow's Theme and Variations, Op. 2, a composition c" great beauty and melodic interest, received excellent treatment, the changing moods of the large number of variations being handled with notable taste and feeling. The major work of the evening was Arnold Bax's Sonata for Two Pianos, in which Mrs Campbell was assisted byMiss Mary Frazer. Arrestingly modern in design, and demonstrating a form of composition which is not frequently heard in Dunedin concerts, possibly because of doubts concerning the audience's subsequ ent reactions, this work enabled the two performers to demonstrate not only their technical skill, but also the sympathy of their individual readings. It was an exacting task, and one which was performed with every circumstance of executive pre cision and artistic insight. Mrs Campbell's next solo appearance was in a bracket of Chopin compositions, the reflective and dreamy Etude in C sharp minor, Op. 25, No. 7, the bustling and vigorous Etude in C major. Op. 10. No. 7, and the brilliant and difficult Fantasie in F minor, Op. 49. all of which were performed with close attention to the essential mood of the moment. The Fantasie was a particularly notable presentation, the heavy demands made upon Mrs Campbell's technical and interpretative equipment being encountered with ease. Two delightful Debusy preludes, "La Serenade interrompue." and the well-loved "La Cathedral englou tie" were given finely-shaded interpretations, after which the pianist gave an attractive reading of Rubinstein's melodious " Romance," the colour and charm of which were ad mirably recaptured As her con eluding item Mrs Campbell presented the exhausting Liszt arrangement of Schubert's " Erl King" with inspiring fire and vigour, responding to the prolonged applause which greeted its conclusion with an encore number.