An Average Night ...

It is quite obvious, from the account given by the National Orchestra in Its last red concert series, Rolf Llebermann and Hon-egger are two Inferior musicians. In attempting to surmount the difficulty of interpreting the former's brash Furioso, and the biatantly absurd Honegger Fifth Symphony, John Hopkins lost himself completely in the mire and bog that is this (music) ? What pretensions either gentleman has to musical aspiration I know not; that both are given to the trite, banal, raucous and atonal, is indication enough of their significance—pitifully small; enough to suit their need. It proved embarrassing to listen to, I have little doubt it was painful to perform. In between these two articles came Berlioz' Royal Hunt and Storm: satisfying music in a way, but tonight, unimaginatively played.

To complement, or rather contrast the Initial half of the concert, Elgar's Cello Concerto in E Minor proved a satisfactory Inclusion. Visiting artist William Pleeth played with distinction and the necessary reserve, the Interpreting of Elgar particularly calls for. His style is neither Insipid nor exclusively brilliant; It is a compromise—as he showed here, clean, lucid and secure; his harmonics came across very well, indeed, only once or twice did his bowing fall to draw from the music, the beautiful lyricism of Elgar. Mr Pleeth's rendering of the work, was, if anything. just short of the definitive. Dvorak's Scherzo Capriccioso was written in the composer's twenty-second year; it is a lively and colourful piece, revealing as it does, many traits clearly visible in his later symphonies and chamber music. It was treated to an exciting but rather flashy reading—unfortunately though, not too flashy, as to remove the bad odour exuded in the earlier stages by the combined efforts of Messrs. L. and H.

—M.J.W.