THE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3014, 20 December 1911, Page 67

THE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

The Dunedin Philharmonic Society brought its season’s series of concerts to a very enjoyable close at the Garrison Hall vxu the 12th in the presence of the. large audience usual on these occasions. The programme presented was both varied and interesting, and the pleasure those present found in its attractive features was manifested in the frequency of the recalls. The orchestra acquitted itself well throughout, and is entitled to credit for the general standard of its playing. Its principal contributions were the _ overture to Verdi's oncra “I Vosperi Siciliani,” and that to Wagner’s “Die Meistersinger.” The selections were not least interesting in their contrast. The Wagner music is thoroughly characteristic of the composer, and provided a severe test of the capacity of the orchestra. The latter emerged from the ordeal on the_ whole very satisfactorily. Success in the interpretation of Wagnerian music is as a rule measurable by the impressiveness of the results achieved, and if the Meistersinger overture was not always impressive, the orchestra must no doubt be

allotted a good deal of the responsibility. Given with fine effect in some of its more brilliant sections, the selection was less happy in its intermediate instrumental development, which is obviously tortuous and difficult, though the rendering was always interesting. .In the Italian operatic" music the orchestra achieved perhaps its best general results. The Verdi overture is itself quite inspiring, and it was rendered with confidence and vigour, the-climax leaving so agreeable an impression that the audience demanded the repetition of a portion of the overture. One of Dvorak's striking Slavonic dances, the stirring march " Call to the fight," by Signor Squariss, and the very dainty pizzicato "La Serenata " (Biehl) were items we'll within the scope of the orchestra, and admirably rendered. A particularly pleasing instrumental number was an "Intermezzo." by Bmil Tilt in the form of a. duo for flute and horn. The soloists, Mr J. W. Stewart and Mr W. "E. M'Kinlay, acquitted themselves excellently in the simple but very taking themes of this little composition, and the accompaniment by the orchestra was nicely modulated. The society again pleased its patrons by including a vocal operatic excerpt on its programme. This took the form of the preludio and duetto from Verdi's tragic opera " Rigoletto." The vocalists were Miss Helen Gard'ner and Mr James and both rose to the occasion, Miss Gard'ner singing with considerable dramatic effect, and Mr Jago with his usual fine reliability. The orchestra, was only just a jtrifle too sonorous for the singers at Vne finish. In response to a demonstrative recall portion of the number was repeated. Further variety was lent to the programme by contributions by Miss Rita Isaacs and Mr W. E. M'Kinlay. Miss Isaacs, gave as a violin solo a " Fantasia appassionata" by Vieuxtemps, which is a composition of somewhat tiresome quality though a, good tost of proficiency, and earned a well-merited recall, to which she responded, for a clean performance suggestive of genuine cleverness and promise. Mr W. E. M'Kinlay used an agreeable li'erht tenor voice to fair advantage in "I'll sing these songs of Araby," though, perhaps, mors happy in his encore selection. Signor Squarise, as usual, eonducted, while Mrs Levi acted as accompanist.