MUSICAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1856, 17 June 1887, Page 28

MUSICAL.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON CONCERTS. The fifth concert of the series was given on Saturday. , The programme was probably fully equal to, if not better than any that Heir Scherek has yet provided; The educational value of these' concerts to musical students can hardly be exaggerated, while at the same time they" afford an excellent entertainment for the less musical portion of the public as well. Those present on Saturday seemed delighted, and should assuredly be grateful to Herr Scherek for such a ' musical treat as was afforded them. Last Saturday's programme was particularly interesting from the fact' that the instrumental compositions' produced followed each other in chronological order from Mozart to Rubinstein,- This concert furnished an 1 excellent opportunity of observing, with the help of Herr Scherek's explanations, the development of the scherzo movement — a ■form of composition which was singled out for particular illustration, examples being furnished by three composers of different schools — viz., Beethoven, Chopin, and Rubinstein. The opening number of the programme was a trio in G major, by Mozart. The charming simplicity of this work, which was excellently performed, was fully appreciated. After the trio, in which Mr Adams took the 'cello part, the same gentleman was beard as a singer in the well-known' song " Hybrias; the Cretan," and • showed himself to be the possessor of a welltrained bass voice, which he uses with great taste. A sonata by Beethoven for piano (opus 29) was the' third number on the programme: This s'onatais indescribably beautiful. Speaking of the- Becond -movement — the' scherzo— a capable writer says:" Itis one of the sweetest and luostairy movements which .-Beethoven has written ; one fancied oneself transported into the fantastic and'humorous elfin world, into a scene in the ♦Midsummer; Night Dream," so wonderful is .the spirit which pervades the piece." It is almost unnecessary to report that the performance of the* sonata was most admirable.' Mrs' Israel followed with a' popular German song by Weidfc, " How fair art thou," and oan be said to have given' a very, pleasing vomloring of ifc. As a violin 80lo v :MrSchaoht thpn 'played, a gavotte by Ries, a very pretty composition, yet no easy task for any violinist. One of the greatest at- . tractions of the concert was the> next' number,* Chopin's scherzo (ppus 31), well known ' to ■ musicians as > being one of ' the tl most ' -beautiful yet most*- difficult of ' performance of -. all . compositions •» for < the 'piano. Herr Scherek's playing was ■ listened to- with marked attention, and it was certainly most masterly. The waroiest applause given' 1 during this concert was that.whioh followed ' this scherzo, and no doubt it was richly deserved. Mr ; Adams than sang a magnificent romanza from! Tannhauser... The effect 1 of this was greatly enhanced by < the exquisite accompaniment!; the singing of 'this romanza must have i satisfied everyone in the room tnat Mr i Adams will prove a valuable acquisition 5 to the musical world of ' Dunedin, • The concert was ended with a sonata' by Ruhinstein for violin and piano, Mr Schacht taking the 'violin part. So seldom has any great work of Rubinstein been -heard in public here* that ' in ' all < probability many ■ of the ' audience;? would for. - the '• first < time realise: the< high position >' as composer that Rubinstein has won." The freshness and varied beauty of this sonata was a great pleasure to those that heard it on Saturday, and' the performers are to be complimented for their careful .rendering of ic. Mr Schaoht, we think, .has never been heard to greater advantage, and ' certainly ) deserves 'his. full < share . of praise for the painstaking preparation' which- he- must- of necessity have given to his .part: However laudatory our remarks may appear, it may Baf ely be asserted 'that.'from "a <■ musical stand-* point, last Saturday's programme was probably one of the.most interesting musical performances ever given in> Dunedin. The next concert of .theseries is to be gi7en on the 2sth' inst. 1 '