(From Birmingham)
THE BIRMINGHAM STUDIO AUGMENTED
ORCHESTRA
Leader, FRANK CANTELL
Conducted by JOSEPH LEWIS
HERBERT SIMMONDS (Baritone) and Orchestra
Aria, ' Song of Galitsky ' (' Prince Igor ') Borodin
PARTS of the Opera, Prince Igor, by Borodin are often heard, the Dances, in particular, having long ago established themselves as real favourites.
In a Prologue to the Opera we see the Prince setting forth at the head of his armies to do battle with ancient enemies of his land, although an eclipse of the sun seems to his devoted people to be a bad-omen. He. leaves his wife's brother, Prince Galitsky, as Regent in his absence.
In the first Act, Galitsky is taking the fullest advantage of. his position, as temporary ruler, to make merry in the most wild and boisterous spirit. In this song, he extols the joys of wine, woman and song, proclaiming how happy all the world will be when he is really placed on the throne in place of his absent Prince.
.March; The Little Bells ; Moths and Butterflies; Fountain Dance ; The Tame Bear; The Wild Bears
AS in the first Suite from this ' Music to a Child's Play,' the names which the composer has given to the several movements are practically all that is needed by way of guidance to the listener.
The first movement is the longest and most elaborately worked out in the Suite ; major and minor sections, with contrasted tunes, alternate throughout its course.
As a sub-title of the second movement the word ' Scherzino ' (a little joke) is added ; actual bells are included in the score, but the music is so happily laid out that the other instruments could produce the required effect almost equally well without them.
In the third movement we are to suppose moths and butterflies dancing in the sun, and in the fourth the sparkling water of the fountain is vividly presented to us by flowing figures on the strings and wood winds, with an effective drum part., played very softly.
Although in the fifth movement the bear is for the most part tame and well mannered, we are here and there reminded that he is, nevertheless, a bear and can still growl; the wildness in the last movement is at times no more than playful good spirits, but these give way to real ferocity from time to time, although the music always preserves the character of a light-footed dance. It brings the Suite to an end with great energy.