CAMPOLI’S MAGIC BOW THRILLS WANGANUI AUDIENCE

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 September 1950, Page 6

CAMPOLI’S MAGIC BOW THRILLS WANGANUI AUDIENCE

Alfredo Campoli thrilled a Wanga nui audience in the Opera House last night with the magic of his violin. It . was a large and enthusiastic audience, ' as it had good reason to be, for in all ! his playing Campoli never ceased to i charm with the unfailing neatness of | his execution and the beauty of his I tone. His repertoire ranged through I many of the old masters, but Campoli .'•was mastei of them all. 1 Tartini’s Devils Trill sonata made 'an excellent opening. Alternatively I grave and gay, the number produced 'tones varying from the screech of brakes to the rustling of a light i breeze. The finale of the four move'ments is perhaps the most famous, and the artist handled the celebrated trill with consummate ease. Next he paid homage to Bach, with a magnificent performance of the praeludium, loure and gavotte from lhe Partita in E major for unaccompanied violin. Here Campoli brought out the majestic and, at times, joyous moods of thp German composer with delightful artistry. He followed this with Mendelssohn’s Concerto in E minor for violin, of five movements. A splendid example of Mendelssohn’s brilliance and joyousness, the finale brought to a climax his first bracket. This work is written on conventional lines. It gave the accompanist, Margaret Schofield, a chance to show her vertuosity. In fact, through the whole per ormance Miss Schofield handled her difficult task with delicate skill. I The second series of works was ; mo.- > v•’d'?|v known and contained I numbers which have been recorded by ' Campoli. Rondo, in G major, by Mo-i'/a'-t. and arranged by Kreisler, has a dainty and vivacious theme produced ! with charming effect at the outset by l the violin in a light staccato. A bracket of three well-loved pieces followed. They were Bach's Air on G String. Elgar’s La Capricieuse and | Hubay’s Zenhyr. His perfermance ;concluded with Bazzini’s La Rondo des Lutins, n* hold character and pinuant rhythm. The audience was satisfied omy when Campoli had returned to the