N.S.W. STATE ORCHESTRA

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14257, 7 January 1920, Page 5

N.S.W. STATE ORCHESTRA

THE HAMILTON VISIT. SUCCESS ASSURED. : '*-■ .'.)■'■ V. :..: '.".1 FINE CONCERT PROGRAMME. Very complete arrangements arc being made tor the visit of the New bouin Wales totaie Orchestra u> Hanwtou to-morrow, and, judging by Uie ,enluusiaßiii aircady. displayeu, a promises to oc entirely suecessiul.. Air bwouuoy, representative o± trie Orchestra, arrived yesterday, and is now busily engaged in super using the extension of the stage, etc.'so that the orchestral numbers may be neard to Uie uest advantage. Tbe work is being carried out by Mr J. McKinnon. The members of the Orchestra, to the uumuur of 90, will arrive* to-mor-row, and will be entertained by members of the local committee. At 3 p.m. they will be taken for a motor run through the town, about 20 private cars having been placed at the committee's disposal. They will proceed to the Government Farm of instruction at Ruakura, where afternoon tea will be provided by Mr and Mrs A. Green.

After the concert in the evening the Orchestra will be entertained in the Theatre Royal Tea Rooms. The members of the local committee arc specially asked to be present. The Evening Concert. It is gratifying to find that there has been a brisk demand for seats at Paul's Book Arcade, no fewer than 300 having already been marked off. Evidently Hamilton music-lovers are realising the importance of the visit, and intend to seize the opportunity of being present at the greatest event in our musical history. The programme arranged should provide a feast of melody. It will be as follows:—Overture, "Leonora No. 3" (Beethoven); scena, "Softly Sighs" (from "Freichutz") (Weber), with orchestral accompaniment, Madame Goossens-Viceroy; Tangi from Maori Rhapsody (Alfred Hill); aria, "Depuis le Jour" (from "Louise") (Charpentier), with orchestral accompaniment, 'Madamo G,oossens-"VT,i<:«roy; (prelude; prelude to act 3 (from "Lohengrin") (Wagner); symphony No. 6 "Pathetique" (Tschaikowsky). Tschaikowsky's great symphony was first performed under the direction of the composer on October 16, 1893, at Pctrograd. It was his last important work, and in the music seems to .ring all the agony of mind which, from his peculiar hypersensitive temperament, must have suffered. "While composing it I frequently shed tears, " wrote the composer to a friend. Yet he* rejected his brother's suggestion that he should call it, "A Tragic Symphony," and accepted the title, "Pathetique." Henri Verbrugghen is recognised as one of the world's ■•great conductors, and he is said to ; obtain the best results from the gifted players of the Orchestra. •■■'."■ ~- : '

In connection with; the .visit of the orchestra, a special souvenir programme has been issued. There are sixty-eight items in the repertoire, which includes overtures, symphonies/ ballet; suites, and many other orchestral items, both well-known and new.- There are also violin and piano concertos; as well as soprano and baritone vocal solos. Annotations have been written for all these by Mr Henri Verbrugghen, so that all who listen to the playing or singing, as the case may be, will be able to follow the reasons for Mr Verbrugghen's interpretations. This is claimed by the management to be the finest compilation of its kind ever published - , ! . The concert in Hamilton to-morrow night should not be missed by those who appreciate the best in music. Civic Reception. The members of the Orchestra were tendered a civic reception by the Mayor (Mr J. H. Gunsori) and Sir W. H. Herries at Auckland yesterday. In replying to the welcome, Mr Verbrugghen said that language was often a bar to understanding, but people were able to. express their individual and national ideals through music, so that they could be understood throughout the world. The New South Wales Orchestra was a very heterogeneous assembly of people, yet they would be able to express what they wished to " express so that their, audience could understand. He believed that by a deeper and keener appreciation of music and a more general cultivation of it, there would come closer' relations between the great countries in the South Seas. (Applause.) I "The Kssslah." • The production of "The Messiah" in! Auckland by the local musical societies, assisted by the Orchestra, under the control of M. Henri Verbrugghen, is arousing the greatestlnterest v i Mr Sweeney, the representative. Who i is now in Hamilton, ; n is morning re- I reived the following wire from Mr I Gladstone Hill:—"Practice last night I of 'The Messiah'' ft revelation. The performance will b 3 'Wonderful. Three ' hundred and M\s voices cheered Ver-I brugghen to »he echo."