SiR HENRY WOOD and His SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
DOROTHY BENNETT (Soprano)
NORMAN ALLIN (Bass)
ANTONIO BROSA (Violin)
Relayed from the Queen's Hall
GRIEG was a fine partner for Ibsen in the presentation of the scenes in Peer Gynt.
Not only had the composer a splendid sense of Norwegian local colour, but his imaginative music was just the thing to accompany and intensify the effect of Ibsen's tale of Peer's adventures in many lands.
Morning is the serene prelude to the Fourth
Act. Ase's Death (for Muted Strings) refers to Peer's old mother. Anitra's Dance is the dance of a Bedouin girl who bewitches Peer. In the Hall of the Mountain King gives a vivid picture of Peer's reception in the palace of the goblins whom he visited, and who tormented and terrified him.
THE French Composer, Lalo, wrote this piece for the famous Spanish Violinist, Sarasate, whom some listeners will recollect hearing, for he used to be a great favourite here twenty years ago.
The Spanish Symphony (which is really a Suite of pieces, not a Symphony in the usual meaning of the term) is Spanish music through a French-man's eyes-gay, debonair, polished, and piquant.
There are in the complete work five separate
Movements, well contrasted in spirit and style.
THE tuneful gaiety and homely sentiment of this piece make it a constant favourite. It will be remembered that it embodies tunes from the Opera-the Children's Prayer at the opening (on the Horns); the Witch's Magic (Trumpets); the Song of the Sandman who puts children to sleep ; and so forth.