Yorkshire Post , 29th November, 1910.
The programme of last evening's York Symphony Orchestra concert was just what it should be, interesting and artistic without being too severe or ambitious. The music was all of comparatively light calibre, for although Beethoven's name appeared in the programme, he was represented by the "Prometheus" Overture, which is not only immature, but, being part of a ballet, in his lightest vein. The least familiar thing in the concert was Edward German's "Welsh Rhapsody," which appropriately owed its origins to the Cardiff Festival six years ago. It is hardly in his happiest vein, and though there is his accustomed finished workmanship and brilliant orchestral effect, it betrays a certain amount of effort, and the sections do not to follow each other as inevitably as one could desire. On this occasion, it must be confessed, it lost something by being played with less than the brilliance and entrain which it demands. In the beautiful slow tune more steadiness would have been an advantage, though one may allow that perfect precision is difficult to secure from a body of no fewer than 33 violins, the large majority of whom are young ladies who cannot be expected to have great experience of playing to a beat. In the final march the brass and percussion were a good deal too much in evidence, and drowned the string passages. The "Casse Noisette" Suite has been played at these concerts before, and, on the whole, with more neatness than on the present occasion. In the overture the want of balance between the 33 violins and the five violas was accentuated by the latter having to divide, and their plucky effort to hold their own deserves the more credit. In the March the horns were not well balanced, while in the Danse des Mirlitons the third flute had apparently to be represented by a clarionet, which affected the tone of the dainty flute passages. Both it and that delightful burlesque, the Chinese Dance, had to be repeated. The celesta part was nicely played on the pianoforte, and the efforts of the young harpist deserve a word of mention. The vocalist was Mr. Campbell McInnes, who sang in thoroughly artistic style "Honour and Arms." Mr. Noble's conducting was so clear as to afford no excuse for the occasional slight unsteadiness to which reference has already been made, and he infused much life into the performances.
Yorkshire Chronicle , November, 1910.
The concert on Monday night was exceedingly successful. The orchestra played with great skill, and their rendering of the various items speaks volumes for the ability which Mr. T. Tertius Noble displays in the training and conducting of his band.
The programme was most judiciously arranged, and provided an agreeable variety of pieces, including Beethoven's overture "Prometheus," which was followed by Edward German's "Welsh Rhapsody." Tschaikowsky's famous "Nut Cracker" Suite was the Piece de resistance, and this charming work was very excellently rendered. The Danse Chinoise and Danse des Mirlitons were enthusiastically encored, and were repeated; the Valse des Fleurs, if the audience had had their wish, would also have been played a second time, but the length of the programme was prohibitive. The other orchestral item was Coleridge Taylor's "Ballade in A Minor," a melodious and cleverly written work.
Mr. Campbell McInnes was the vocalist, it being his first appearance in the city. He possesses a voice of exceptional beauty, and sings with great artistic expression, and the ease with which he surmounts the technical difficulties of difficult bravura airs like "Honour and Arms" bears evidence to the thoroughness of his musical training. Of the three songs which formed his second contribution to the programme, and for which he received an enthusiastic encore, the setting of R. L. Stevenson's "Requiem" may be singled out for special praise.
Although there were many more vacant seats than ought to have been the case, the audience was above the average and by their evident appreciation must have given the promoters of the concert much encouragement.
The next concert is fixed for March 20th of next year, and it is gratifying to learn that Miss Fanny Davies has consented to come and play on that occasion.