The thirteenth Symphony Cancer: at the Town Hall, on January proved extremely attractive, the first part of the programme especially being received with much applause, Dvorak's Overture "Carnaval whine! one straight away' into a spirit of revelry with its. brisk, joyous melody, in which the Jingilng of fair-music'and the staccato of castanets vied with each other to maintain an illusion of holiday. The swift diminuendo and crescendo were very elfeetively handled, and the whole led to a tremendous climax.
The harp with its liquid muted notes was responsible for some of the most striking effects, and deserves com-
The "Serenata Medioevale," oponing with three blasts on a distant, fairylike horn, was extremely pretty, while Mr, Shevtzolf's cello solo in both this and in Popper's Hungarian Rhapsody, "which followed, proved most popular He has a surety of touch and a confidence in handling his instrument which it is a pleasure to witness. He is not quite so ox-pert in his double bowing, but in the light allegretto dance themes of tha Rhapsody he is really excellent. a lo Falla's Three Dancos which closed the first half of the mime extraordinarily pulsating with energy. The Moorish background ix conveyed by means of plucked syrings aided by intermittent blasts og from some battlement tower. There is some lack of niclody and coherence, the second of the three dances working up into a. tremendous drumming finale reminiscent of a cannibal tribe's dance. In the third there is fan almost savazce intensity of sound, conveyed chiefly by drums and strings, without the blatant. insiste ence of to much brass.
Tachaikowsky's "Romeo and Juliet," with which the second part of the programme opened, although it had some tuneful passages, proved somewhat disjointed. Tt was forcible fand majestic in parts, but there was too much blare and noise, frankly, the corsposition struck us as un-Shakespearean. It was too sophisticated, Incking in appeal, in the pathos and sublime clarity of ex-time youth, Of the No settings of old British folk music, "Shephonts, Fey" proved the more popular, being delightfully rendered by the whole orchestra. Altogether stu exception-pleasing and well-selected programme.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.