ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY

Southland Times, Issue 22113, 6 September 1933, Page 8

ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY

SECOND CONCERT. PERFORMANCE APPRECIATED. The Victoria Hall was packed last evening on the occasion of the Invercargill Orchestral Society’s second concert of the 1933 season. The performance by the orchestra of the varied items of the programme met with the keen appreciation of the audience, encores being demanded freely. The soloists, Miss Peggy McConachie and Mr L. P. Evans, also proved popular, having to return on each occasion. The programme commenced with the overture “Euryanthe” (Weber) by the orchestra and the second item was a song “Moorings” by Mr Evans. The applause was so insistent that he was forced to reappear and he sang “Eleanore” (Coleridge-Taylor) with true feeling. The tone etude “Liebestraum” by the orchestra preceded the initial appearance of Miss McConachie to sing “Nocturne in E Flat” (Chopin). She was forced to make a second appearance, her choice being “The Star.” The audience appeared to be thoroughly taken with the work of the orchestra, and when “Minuet” was given by the string instruments only a second rendition was required, as in the case of the previous numbers. “Serenade Florentine” (Godard) from “Scenes Italiennes” by the orchestra was the opening number of the second half of the programme and it was done with fine effect. Mr Evans appeared for the second time to give the song “To the Forest” (Tschaikowsky). He met with a cordial reception and gave as an encore “Mother O’ Mine” (Tours). The next number by the orchestra, the fantasia “Reminiscences of Grieg” was a long piece, but that did not detract from its enjoyment. Indeed, a repeat performance was demanded. Miss McConachie’s singing of “Liebestraum” (Lizst) once again made an appeal and she came on again to sing “In My Garden.” an exceptionally pretty piece. The concluding number of the concert was “Prelude” (Rachmaninoff) by the orchestra, a fitting end to an enjoyable concert. The conductor of the orchestra was Mr W. J. Ferguson, Mr P. A. Poole being leader and Miss N. Hay accompaniste.