DUNEDIN ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2433, 31 October 1900, Page 55

DUNEDIN ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

C«»NT,ERT. The programme submitted at the third concert of tho Dunedin Orchestral Society's thirteenth season — which took place in the Agricultural Hall on Fridiy night in the presence of a large audience, — was nob as attractive as seme of those presented on past occasions. This, however, does not imply that tho entertainment the society provided was not an enjoyable one. In framing its musical bill of fare the society has to provide for a somewhat wide* diversity of tastes, and -that it has succeeded in doing this well in the past will be conceded by all. A judicious admixture of classical music with light and tuneful compositions is armed at, a,ud some times a very felicitous combination _is attained. But something more is required than the mere selection si light and heavy music. The compositions themselves must be< considered. For* instance last evening the " Lohengrin " selection was "played, and while doubtless there were many who would derive the greatest measure of enjoyment from hearing this noted Wagnerian.work there were others who would have preferred one. of the symphonies. .And so with the lighter compositions. However, it is impossible to perfectly please everyone, and while one may easily recall anany concerts of the society which, reviewed all round, were more cnp'oyaole than this one, the programme 'in this instance undoubtedly afforded the large number rj resen t a profitable and pleasurable couple of , hours. The " Lohengrin ' selection . has n°t infrequently been played by the soo'^fw, and the members aie well acquainted with fhe work. That it was the best" tiling of the evening will scarcely be contested. It was interpreted throughout with admirable effect. In fact the rendering was freer from defects than the performance of one or two selections that made comparatively little or no demands on the skill of the instrumentalists, and as the final notes died away, the audience signified their approbation in the most emphatic rounds of applause. The overture to " Obcron," would doubtless be singled out by most people as the orchestral selection next in order of merit. It, too, has often figured on the society's programmes, but it is one that no amount of repetition will render less attractive. One authority writing of " Oberon '' describes it as being " delightfully fresh and originally thought cut, and entirely different from all the rest of Weber's compositions." Originality is tho characteristic mark of Weber's writings, and in none oit his works is the feature more in evidence than in " Oberon." It was played in a manner that left very little room for adverse criticism, although at limes a lack of steadiness in the violins was noticeable. The suite '"Aus Aller Herren Lander (op. 23), by Mosz;kowski also formed one of the principal orchestral contributions. The suite comprises a set of six characteristic pieces, and were performed here by the orchestra at the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition. In this instance foitr of the items were played — namely, Italian, German, Polish, and Hungarian. In the worJsof the capitally annotated programme how fa? Moszkowski has succeeded in his attempt toportray in music 'the characteristics of the several countries anust, in a large measure, be a matter of individual opinion, but the items are inherently tuneful and pleasing. Notably is this so in the case of fhe Italian and Polish items, which were played with an excellent appreciation of their quaint, dainty music. The whole performance, in fact, was a high\v commendable one, and was deservedly received with liberal applause. " The Merry Wives of Windsor " (in which occasional lapses in point of tune were noticeable), the march ".Hoch ' Habsburg " (Krai), a selection from " Dorothy ' (which^ however, was only, cif average merit), and a delightful waltz by G-ung'l were the other orchestral nieces. The vocal portion of the prpgramme was entiusted to iladanie E. L'Estrange and Mr James Jago. Tha lady sang "The belter land" (Cowen) and Behrend't Daddy." The first solo was rendered with taste and expression, but it did not suit "the vocalist's voice or style so well as Behrend's one time often heard little number, which was received with a ,good round of applause. -Mr James Jago has seldom been heard to better advantage than he was last evening. His singing of " I arise from dreams cyf thee," a setting of Shelley's poem by Salaman, and '' Thy sentinel am I " can fairly be described as artistic, and that the audience viewed it as such was made apparent by the emphatic manner in which they honoured him with a recall. Mr Coombs, the conductor, was at his post "in front of the instrumentalists, and the important duties of accompanist were discharged by Mr Bdi-th with his customary skill.

A little girl named Mabel Moorby died at Eereru (Manawatu) last weeic through eating unripe gooseberries. At the Oamaru Magistrate's Court on Saturday, Richard, Mulcahey was sentenced to month's imprisonment for unlawfully holding communication with a prisoner named Watson. The police evidence showed that Mulcahey tried to persuade Watson to go with him when released, as he knew " more about Ihievincf than Ned Morgan." TUSSICURA Cures Cough?, Cold, and Incipient Consumption. * Give this wonderful remedy a trial.