ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2370, 3 August 1899, Page 47

ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

The second concert of the Dunedin Orches-

! tral Society's twelfth season took place in the I Garrison Hall on Thursday night. The building , was crowded to the doors, and not a few found themselves compelled to go -without a seat throughout the whole of the entertainment. As is usual with the society, the programme was evidently drawn up "with care and judgment, and a delightful variety of music was presented for -the delectation of those who were present. The principal orchestral contribution was 'Schu- ' 1 bert's. celebrated unfinished symphony. It "has figured on past programmes, and its inclusion in last night's 'list was "hailed with general pleasure. The symphony is written in B minor, and only two of the movements — allegro and andante — are finished. The ■work .was be- ( gun at Vienna in October, 1622, and, according to &rove, it lay bidden at Grata for many.

years, -being afterwards first produced ft? Vienna in 1865. -" It is certain," adds Grove, "that Schubert never heard the music played, and that the new and delicate effects and orchestral combinations with which it is crowded? were the result of his imagination alone." In by-gone years objections used to be heard against the inclusion of symphonies in the programmes -of the society, as representing music which was only capable of. being ap--predated by a comparatively small section of the audience. The -society, -however, acting on the principle that its mission 1 is to educate as well as to amuse, persisted in its course," and the attentive and interested attitude "of the audience throughout the lengthy, selection; 1 and -the emphatic round of applause which-i^ greeted its conclusion, would indicate that the : -' principle 'is a sound one, and is being applied ? with success. Both movements were played in > . an -eminently " satisfactory manner, ,aud bath,-,', conductor and inßtruinentalists should be con- fe gratulated ■on their efforts. The Meyerbeer, f selection "Les Huguenots "^jranked next, in.' importance in t the orchestral pieces. ~_ Tha I work. had> evidently been carefully rehearsed',." and not" only 'were the^ tutti parts ' admirably'" played, but the passages for the several instru- ' ments rcet v,ith adequate treatment. The brass music was most effectively rendered, - while the work" of the euphonium and oboe ia the solo parts should be singled out for-tas ' special -T9ord of praise. The overture to^!sla»i Cenerentola " (Rossini) was a delightful contribution, alihouga displaying rsdgrjs- of insuffl- , cient rehearsal. It is a characteristic .selection, and -might profitably be repeated ,at a concert in the near future. The suite ".Rural scenes'" (Matt), comprising pastoral, romanza, awd scherzo movements, and the selection from the l Japanese musical play "The Geisha" ' proveit . highly acceptable, ">lay"ed as 'they were ; Trith . capital effect, while thie^inarch "Eyes right"- ' ' (Unrath) was received .with •« favourable demon—- ■ slration. The vocal' portion 1 of the entertain- : ment was -entrusted t6 lira TEI. Hudson, jim;, and Mr Mai Wand Gardner, both >ol whom con- • tributed in tio small degree -to the - enjoyment of those present. Mra KuzJsoTi's numbers were " Once " (Hervey; and " W-hwi the heart is young " (BuOk). This first numbsr was sung >»ith excellent taste, "..ut the vooaliat achieved even more success iv her second effort. In each- instance she was compelled to reappear end bow her acknowledgments. Mr Gard'iiei , sang " Thou art my life ".' (Mascheroni)j and "II Factotum " from " H Barbiore." Mr Gardner, who possesses a well trained voice, ' . which he has under perfect control, sang ' Masch'ercni's number with artistic taste and ' skill, and was rewarded with a Tecall. His second contribution, which was sung in Itali&a. from merooiy, was capital in every resepct. In fact, tho well-known song has not been Ucard so -admirably rendered here for many • a long day. The accompaniments during H\& evening were played by Mr Barth.