MUSIC RECITAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26198, 8 July 1946, Page 8

MUSIC RECITAL

BACH TO THE MODERNS The handful of listeners who attended the first recital presented by the chamber music section of the newly-formed Otago University Musical Union, h,eld in the Allen Hall on Saturday night, must surely have realised their good fortune. It is to be hoped that the indifferent response accorded the first attempt of an enthusiastic society to provide interesting programmes for lovers of good music will not be a source of undue discouragement to the organisers. . The programme chosen was well balanced, including instrumental works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Brahms, and Frederick Delius, as well as two groups of songs. The recital opened with a Bach/Prlude and Fugue played by Miss Chase Clarke. The pianist gave a sound interpretation of this work, and the beautiful structure of the prelude combined with the smooth fluency of the fugue were subjects which received understanding treatment from the performer. A bracket of songs followed —“Secrecy” (Wolf), “A May Night (Brahms), and “Five Eyes ” ‘ (Armstrong Gibbs)—sung by Miss Mona Ross. The singer’s rich contralto voice was heard to good advantage, and contrast was provided by the sprightly “Five Eyes” immedi ately following the sedate Brahms composition. The Sonata in E minor for 'cello and piano, by Brahms, was played by Mr Wilfred Simenauer and Mr John Matheson, both of whom showed insight into one of the works of a composer whose concertos and sonatas have profoundly enriched our music Mr Simenauer achieved a beautiful tone, and a ’cellist of rare ability was re vealed in the sonorous low register passages in which the work abounds Although attention is drawn principally to the string parts, Mr Matheson’s execution imbued the work with further appeal. The audience was captured by a virile presentation of three songs bv Mr Bryan Drake. They were “ Birds in the High Hall Gardens” (Summervei), “Watermill” (Vaughan Williams), and

“Under the Greenwood Tree” (Arne) Mr Drake’s resonant bass-baritone voice did full justice to his selections, and the accompaniments were played with understanding by Mrs Ernest Drake. The recital was concluded with another sonata for ’cello and piano played by Mr Simenauer and Mr Matheson. This time the composer was Frederick Delius, and the performers' interpretation of a contrasting work to the Brahms was invested with full authority.