ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY

Southland Times, Issue 19345, 10 September 1924, Page 6

ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY

SECOND CONCERT OF SEASON. The popularity of the Invercargill Orchestral Society’s concerts has become great during past seasons, and the periodical entertainments given by the Society are looked forward to with keen interest by the local music-loving public. This year the standard reached by the orchestra, under the capable baton of Mr W. J. Ferguson, has been raised considerably, and the large audience that filled the Grand Theatre last evening on the occasion of the second concert of the Society’s fifteenth season, were not slow to show their appreciation of the excellent programme. The continued and enthusiastic support of the public is ample evidence of the important and popular place the Society has taken in Invercargill’s musical and concert seasons, and augurs well for its future success. Many new honorary members have been enrolled, and the personnel of the orchestra has been increased in strength during the past year, and the interest taken must be very gratifying to the conductor, who for many years has spent much time and trouble in bringing the orchestra to its present standard. All the work of the orchestra was very good, and showed a great improvement in blend and balance upon the previous 1924 concert, but perhaps the most pleasing number was the descriptive pastorale suite “From the Countryside” (Eric Coates). Tne suite, full of charming melodies and giving ample scope for all departments of the orchestra, was well and vigorously treated, and the first violins, containing many fine individual players, notably Messrs A. H. Ferguson, P. Poole, D. Holz, and Miss M. Mackintosh, were heard to great advantage. Other pleasing numbers were the “Magic Flute” (Mozart), Nocturne from Midsummen Night’s Dream” (Mendelssohn), in which Mr J. Storrie rendered a horn solo with orchestral accompaniment, and the “Folk Song and Fiddle Tune” (Flether), all of which showed an excellence of interpretation and harmony much above the orchestra’s previous work. A violin duet, “Largo from Double Concerto” (Bach), played by Messrs P. Poole (orchestra leader), and A. H. Ferguson was greatly appreciated, and a string quartette, Minuetto and Trio—quartetto fourteen (Mozart), consisting of Messrs Ferguson, Poole, H. L. Hay and V. Le Petit, although rather lacking in colour, was played pleasingly, and with good combination. The only vocal soloist on the programme was Mr F. H. Taylor, whose work was very well received. Mr Taylor sang “Life and Death” (Coleridge-Taylor) in the firstjhalf of the programme, with “I Love Thee” (Greig) as an encore number. He was considerably handicapped by the poor acoustic properties of the theatre, but gave a fine performance, and sang with considerable feeling and expression. After the interval Mr Taylor rendered “At Columbine’s Grave” (Martin Shaw), and “Harlequin” (Sanderson) both difficult songs, requiring, especially in the former case, very careful treatment.