BOLD EXPERIMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1935, Page 9

BOLD EXPERIMENT

CONCERTOS ON TWO PIANOS. MRS. V. PARKINSON’S RECITAL. One of the. most interesting recitals at New Plymouth for some time, given at Stradholme on Saturday night by Mrs. Vernon Parkinson, L,R.AjM., and associates, was made memorable by the playing of Grieg’s Concerto in A Minor (Opus 16), Romance from Mozart’s Concerto in D Minor, and “The Blue Danube” by Johann Strauss on two pianos. The works, of course, are for piano and orchestra, and the playing of the orchestral parts on a second piano was a bold and original experiment attended with complete success. Mr. Harold Morey assisted Mrs. Parkinson, and other items given by Mrs. H. Bulmer, contralto, and Miss E. Dowling, violin. Miss M. Barlow, accompaniste, was in splendid form. The hearing of concertos, except through the radio and gramophone media, is considerably restricted in these days, and Mrs. Parkinson deserves credit for her inclusion of the works in the programme. The first item played, Mozart’s “Romance,” showed that extreme care had been taken by the soloist and her associate, and the timing was remarkable. The work, typically Mozart and filled with the delicate melody of the supreme melodic composer, was attacked crisply by both players and the full value given to the beauty of the works. The technical demands were not small, but they were overcome in triumphant style. Grieg’s concerto is one of the loveliest of all for piano, and one was somehow filled with intense satisfaction when the first movement, the allegro motto moderate, with its lovely theme, was begun. Throughout a work demanding except tional skill both players were never troubled, and in the broad cadenza of the opening theme Mrs. Parkinson demonstrated a technique of exceptional facility. The pianissh-o-passages were played precisely and d clicately, while the crashing fortissimo chords came through with clearness. The adagio and allegro movements were as well played as the opening, and the work generally was a pleasure to listen to. The Schultz-Evler-Chasins arrangement of “The Blue Danube” brings out all the melody of a famous work, It calls for much skill in the interweaving of the themes between the orchestra and. the soloist, and it also calls for an understanding of the graceful melody of. the waltz. The players reversed positions, and both again gave a wonderful display of timing. The melody always' came through clearly and there was none of the turgidness of sound commonly found in small halls. As an enco-re,. Saint-Saens* “The Swan” was given, and though the work finds its fullest expression with the ’cello and violin, it was played with uncommon skill and was received with much applause. Mrs. Parkinson’s solo works, were interesting in themselves. Played by .so accomplished a performer, they were invested with additional charm, and Mrs. Parkinson was a delight to listen to always. She played MacDowell’s “Etude de Concert" (Opus 36), a technical work with unexpected beauties. Some of the passages required tremendous pace, and there . was one passage of counterpoint for left and right hands that made great demands. The. difficulties were- overcome with a splendid ease. Three delightful little excerpts from Gabriel Grovley’s “L’Almanach aux Images” were given with precision and delicacy.' Mrs. Bulmer, a contralto of fine, tuneful voice, sang Bach’s “Heart and Mouth to Thee are Open,” Saint-Saen’s “Softly Awakes My Heart,” “Silent Noon," by Vaughan Williams, “Plaisir D’Amour,” by Martini, “Madrigal,” and “The Easter Hymn,” and in all she was delightfully at ease. The Bach, Saint-Saens, Williams? and Martini songs were glorious, and if Mrs. Bulmer has not the chestiness of the greatest she has clear notes and splendid enunciation. The .. Vaughan Wil* liams song was a delightful thing. Miss Dowling played Pergolesi’s “Air,” a melancholy work, Meo's “Cubanese Dance,” a work calling for skilful bowing and an encore, and gave three fine renderings. One criticism, however, was that her bowing lacked firmness, and she once or twice in the first item committed the sin of “scraping” slightly. ■ ; •