MUSICAL EVENING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26234, 19 August 1946, Page 8

MUSICAL EVENING

ENTERTAINMENT IN ALLEN HALL LILBURN TRIO IMPRESSES Of particular interest in an attractive programme of modern and classical works which was presented Dy the Otago University Musical Union in Allen Hall on Saturday night was the first performance in Duneain of Douglas Lilburn’s Trio for violin, viola, and ’cello, a composition which won the admiration of the large audience. The musical and artistic worth of the young Christchurch composer’s trio was evident from the fact that even in the company in which it was played its maturity of craftsmanship and musical quality made it a work that held the close attention of the audience. Melodic originality and a skilful thematic development made each of the three movements in the trio delightfully easy to listen to, and yet full of musical interest- The performance of the work by the Christchurch instrumentalists, Margaret Sicely (violin), Vera Robinson (viola), and Valmai Moffett (’cello), was outstanding for competence and precision. They played in perfect sympathy, and achieved admirable balance, with the result that the audience’s introduction to the trio was attended by the 'favourable factors of deep musicianly understanding and accomplished execution on the part of its performers. At the conclusion of the performance the composer, together with the members of the trio, received a warm tribute from the deeply-impressed audience. It is to be hoped that this work will soon again be heard in this city in circumstances that will permit greater numbers of music-lovers to gain an insight into the work of the composer. The programme opened with a workmanlike and expressive performance of Beethoven's “Spring” Sonata in F major by Duncan Gillies (violin) and Rai McNicol (piano). The violinist’s good technical and artistic gifts enabled him to give a well-balanced and smoothly-developed reading of’ this composition, and, he was given fine support by the ’ pianist, whose work was marked by crisp and accurate execution and good expression. Three Schubert songs, “The Erl King,” “ The Wanderer,” and “ By the Sea.” were sung with impressive effect by Bryan Drake, whosp interpretations were notable for their artistic insight. A number of pianoforte solos by Rosaline Plank provided what may be described as an effective centrepiece to the entertainment, this accomplished young pianist playing two groups of compositions with fine musicianship. They consisted of two Chopin Preludes, "Arabesque, by Arensky, and the intriguing “Mouvement Perpetual,” by Poulenc, on her first appearance, and Rovers * Jeux d’Eau ” and “ Rhapsody,” by Dohnanyi, as her second group. Three Engling songs, “ Silent Noon,” by Vaughan Williams, “Silver,” by Armstrong Gibbs, and “The Fuchsia Tree, by Roger Quilter, were artistically sung by Mona Ross, who invested each song with rich expression and used her fine contralto voice with effect. The entertainment concluded with the performance of the Lilburn Trio. The pianoforte accompaniments to the songs -were played by Dr V. E. Galway.