The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-18

worth nearing. MT. LII CecCOS direction b unique but mol revolutionary and he succeeds in combining his material to the very best advantage. Most of the time he gets the results that he is striving for, which makes for dis iilguished performance; one that has not the earmarks of the routine amateur orchestra.
 Last night when the orchestra and MT. 0rainger went to town, so to speak, in the Grieg Concerto in A Minor, Opus l6, the listeners sat up and took notice. MT. Grainger's per- formance was nothing short of COG lossal, and there was not much wondering how orchestra and pianist would come to grips after the first few phrases has been sounded. All through the three parts of the Con- certo the musical line was followed the orchestra painstaking in their efforts, but pliable; and MT. Grain gers force and vigor, remarkable All this cooperation from all parties concerned made the Concerto q dynamic and understandable thing The pianistic skill of the artist may and did reach great heights in this work which forms one Of the very great treasures included in his vast repertoire. Nothing could have been more acceptable than the brilliant Allegro. tapered of by the quieter ..~AA aS kS.s Az AaatA aad naSAn1s,diy1y with the final movement, also allegro but more marked, the dramatic finish brilliant and exciting. MT. Grainger played as encores his own arrangement of Brahms Lullaby, and his Country Gardens"
 Violin Choir
 Bizet's "L'Arlesienne Suite No. l" was the first. number on the pro- gram, the four short movements done in agreeable style. The violin choir last night were conspicuous in many instances, and the fullness and depth of tone was noted, per- haps in the second offering, Brahms Tragic Overture Opus el; in this as well as the splendidly negotiated Liszt piece that concluded the pro- gram the work in the string sec- tons was noteworthy. The other orchestra groupings also gave their scores an agreeable and artistic reading, the harp adding to the ef- feet in certain compositions.
 After intermission were heard Verdi's Prelude to Act II from "Traviata", phrased smoothly, Du- bensky's "dcssips", and Bacchanale Samson and Delilah) by Saint Saens. Liszt's symphonic poem Les Preludes" gave the orchestra some of their most difficult work of the evening. Brief history of the poem" was included with pragram notes. Various moods of the poems or- chestrated form compelling music, Joy and sorrow traced in the musical line and harmonic progressions. The piece has @ moving theme and is gripping in its contrasting harmon les.
 The program last night was dis- tinguished one, the subject material entirely different from any yet of- ferred by Mir. Di Cecco. Ills players seem to rise happily to every oc- casion and the Civic Orchestra of Waterbury as & going and @ growing groups appears to be assured. An- nouncements for next season prom ise triumphs not yet achieved. and with the successes of 1940 and 194l treasured by MT. Di Cecco, the or- chestra and the listeners, one may look forward to the season ahead with anticipation and great joy in the knowledge of the existence here in Waterbury of such an organiza- ton as The Civic Orchestra of Wat erbury. --M. M.