The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-02-14
Civic Orchestra In
 Outstanding Success
Variety of Program Excellence of Players, Direction
 of Mario DiCiCcO, Talent of SOIOiSt Impressive

There was an abundance of va- riety in the works presented last night by the Civic Orchestra of Wa terbury in their concert at Bucking- ham hall. Mario DiCecco, director has shown himself since the con- certs were first started, program builder. Each one chosen takes the listener through a sequence of un- related musical performance but all nicely blending or contrasting. For instance last night there were the lovely phrases of the two Grieg pieces, where so much depended on pure tone, and for contrast the ex- ample of modern American compo- sition from the picturesque suite of Ferde Grofe, "On the Trair' from the Grand Canyon Suite. Through out the program MT. DiCeccos players responded intelligently to superior direction Donald Bundock of Bridgeport and New York, bass baritone of musicianly attainments, added in no small degree to the quality of the program.
 Beethoven, Mozart
 Beethoven's Overture to 'Egdmont' came first on the program. The or- chestra attacked with accuracy and sureness, a quality that has been noticeable in the history of the group and which impresses the listener in each succeeding concert. The next offering which was Mo- zart,s Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, was the important part of the eve- ning's program. The playing in all the choirs of the orchestra gave evil dence of general good musicianship, the Mozartian quality stately, deli cate and all that the text demanded. The Menuetto was trif1e more anil mated than the accustomed minuet, and agreeable in its light and shade effects. The Symphony was enjoy able throughout and presented with coherence in the Allegro Motto, the Andante, the Menuetto and the con- cluding Allegro Assai.
 The fine phrasing and control of the instruments in "Heartwounds" and Last Spring" by Grieg were noteworthy, these two pieces of rare tcnal beauty carefully translated and scoring added merits for the orchestra. Next came two modern numbers, the one French, the other American. The short March of the FaunS" by Pierne was a happy little piece that utilized some of the har- monic progresSions characteristic of Pierne. This piece from one of the composers ballet is a trifle sugges- tive of Ravel in its mood. The Amer ican offering was the Ferde Grofe tonal picture of bit of western" :" The trail and the riders came through in the photography of music. It was pleasant to hear and an agreeable program piece of the modern syncopated music type which uses striking jazz devices. Among these modern devices was the small piano interlude. played in credit able manner by the pianist of the orchlstra, Miss Dorothy Guilfoile
 Closing Number
 The orchestra closed in grand manner with the brilliant "Capric- cio Italienne" by TschaikowSky, which includes airs Italian in flavor but orchestrated in a Russian man. ner. The number is a splendid ar- engagement in the irregular form of the capriccio. It opens more or less sedately and suddenly takes fire, the recurring theme of the Italian song predominating, colorful and melodi- ous, but at all times the progressions, the emotional content Russian in character. It is very stirring piece and like so many of this composers compositions exciting and moving. The orchestra were all happily cast, you might say, with all sections of the band given ample opportunity for making good music. Tn this Tschaikowsky as in all the other program numbers the instruments did a good job: more and more the choirs click, the woodwinds and the