Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Monday 8 April 1946, page 4


MODERN VIOLIN SONATAS

Harry Hutchins, violinist, and Roy Shepherd, pianist, added greatly to the interest of their sonata recital at the Assembly Hall on Saturday night by including in it works of two modern, and vital, composers, Lekeu, who died in 1894-two years after the first performance of his G major sonata-and Dorian le Gallienne, who was in the audience for the first public performance of his G minor

sonata.

Lekeu's sonata, replete with melodic beauty, and with a strong romantic theme running through its basically classic structure, found the tvo ex-ponents in perfect partnership, Mr Hutchins' violin singing with won-derful tonal clarity and sweetness, and Mr Shepherd keeping the lyrical

characteristics of the work to the fore by his finished technique.

Dorian le Gallienne's sonata called for different treatment. It is ruth-lessly modern in its sudden change of mood, in its defiance of mere har-mony, but it shows deft craftsman-ship, and in parts great talent in creating colourful or mystical atmos-phere. The players, following the composer's lead, emphasised the technical qualities of the work in a brilliant but at times brittle inter-pretation.