DUNEDIN ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2647, 7 December 1904, Page 61

DUNEDIN ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

The Dunedin Orchestral Society's fourth concert) of tho year, held -an Friday at the Garrison Hall, attracted an audience sufficiently large almost to tax the capacity of the building, and the audience, it is hardly necessary to say, was of the usual appreciative kind. Last evening's concert was in style . quite similar to those the society ds in thehabit of holding, and quite up to the now safely anticipated standard of merit. The oichestral selections were varied and wellchosen, and without exception well calculated to please an audience of average nmisical intelligence. From a popular standpoint the most successful orchestral contribution was the well-known overture from "Wagner's " Tannhauser," and the glowing, descriptive music was without doubt excellently interpreted, the orchestra entering thoroughly into the spirit of the composition and faithfully attending to the conductor's baton. At the conclusion of the overture a particularly hearty round of applause was forthcoming from the audience Thoroughly efficient orchestration however was evident in other selections, and Beethoven's fine sixth " Pastorale" symphony in the storm (allegro and finale (allegretto) movements, Ponchielli's "' Dance of the hours" (a ballet full of light and pleasing contrasts), and a selection from Rossini's " Mo3es in Egypt" were eminently enjoyable, and went to constitute a most excellent programme. Qxiite worth their place on the programme also -were the opening march, ITavowieski's "Under Freedom's flag," and the concluding waltz, Gung'l's " Marien." As usual, judiciously interspersed vocal items assisted in the success of the concert, the soloists being Miss Agnes Wilson (contralto) and Mr C. H. Clarkson (bass). Though her voice is on the light side for so large a hall,' Miss Wilson entirely pleased her hearers by her sympathetic and finished renderings of "Farewell to summer" (Johnson) and " Home song" (Ldddie). .Mr Clarkson's voice is of very full and even" quality, and he used, it to real advantage in Salaman's " I arise from dreams of ihee" and Pinsuti's " 'Tis I." both solos well suiting his voice aiid eliciting for him demonstrative approval : if Mr Clarkson has a difficulty it ia perhaps in just completely avoiding monotony. Mr James Coombs was in his usual place as conductor, Mr E. Parker led the orchestra, and Mr W. E. Taylor acted as accompanist.