WANGANUI ORCHESTRAL CLUB

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLVIII, Issue 12365, 3 December 1904, Page 2

WANGANUI ORCHESTRAL CLUB

The third concert of the season was given last night to a Largo and appreciative audience. The programme was ■well chosen and encores wero numerous. Tho orchestra was ' respons fcie for five numbers1-, four of which have been given 4ib previous concerts. The cve-rturo to Flotow's "Stradelia" would have been better for a few more rehearsals, but Tra.s fairly weGl interpreted on the whole. Schubert.s beautiful "Unfinished Symphony" is a difficult piece for an orchestra composed to a largo degree of amateurs, but although it opened rather .tamely, it improved as tho musicians settiled down to their work. The three dances from."Nell Gwynn" by German ivero nicely played, except for a^ew eccentricities by yome of the wind-instru-ments. They; are bright, tuneful - compositions, and tihe last of the three earned an encore. The ©harming -melody 'from tihe "Chant dv Voyagsur" by=Pad-«e-rewski was taken much slower than is usual, the alteration m the tempo being a.nything but an improvement; in. fact, it was a serious burnish, to what wo-uld^ olihenvise have been a""creditable performance. The closing number was the descriptive fantasia, "Tho Miftl in the Foreet," by Eiienberg, but a bad start ivas made, tihe first clarionets playing the opening bars in a wrong key, a mistake immediately rectified, but somewhat disconcert (ng to tho rest of the band. Descriptive fantasias are always popular w'lien the publVc air© told what is being described. The imagination requires ho bo guided into a correct channel and then the- theme can be followed. Miss Csiudia and' Miss Violet Price gave a very pretty duet for two", violins?, a '•'Sereiiads" by Godard, which they -played anrtistnieailly, tibe two instruments b'«endmp- psrf ectiv and there was -obvious sympathy -between the young violinists. They received a well-deserved encore, and -weiTQ equally -successiuil in their encoro p"eco—a "Souven r" of Schubert s. Miss Delves afforded pleasure by . her treatment of "L-ove is a Bird,'' a song suited to'her voice, and for winch she received a warm encore. Mr. Clarke Johnson, who is a visitor to Waiiganui, created a good impression. His first sono-, "I Fear no Foe," was encored, whan1 he substituted tho "Yeoman s Wedd'nf." He was also encored in the A-econd part for Su'Jlivan'a "A Sailors Grave," giving in response a rather conventional Irish baLad. Mr. Hardwicke .sang with v-ery good effect "Hybnas th Cretan,'" for which he reeeiv■ed an enthusiastic recall, to winch he . responded with "Ask Nothing More." A great feature .in Mr. Hardwickes singing is the purity and clearness of his ■enunciation, every word being distinctly pronounced, and it is a quality wineh_ is often wanting in y..'nger« end-owed .with -jjxocfrlenb voioas. Mr. Hexbea-b Collier, tha popular conductor of t.ho Orchestra, played two 'cello solos, which were both enjoyable. Ihe first was a dainty "JJoumee," by Squire, a,Tid the second a charming m-edodyy we tihink by Moffatt, ivas given in •response to a very decided encore. • Mr. CoUier brings out a full rich tone: &3id plays with taste and expression. Owing to tha numerous encores, the concert was prolonged to a later hour than mtoal.