N.S.W. ORCHESTRA

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17471, 3 June 1922, Page 9

N.S.W. ORCHESTRA

LETTER FROM M. VERBRTTGOHEN.

DISBANDMENT DECIDED UPON. MEMBERS RECEIVE NOTICE. (By C»W« —Prew Association—Copyright.) (AurtrbUan and N.Z. Cable AMooiatioii.) SYDNEY, June 2. The Government, within a few days, will give three months' notice to the members of the N.S.YV. State Orchestra. Mr Cyril Monk, leader of the orchestra, in an eleventh-hour appeal to save the orchestra, spates that the latter could be made a good business proposition by holding fewer performances and reducing prices. Sydney, having wrested the musical palm from Melbourne, should make extra efforts to retain it. The final decision in regard to the State Orchestra is largely due to M. Henri Verbrugghen'e acceptance of an appointment at Minneapolis involving a second half year' 6 leave without pay, delaying his return to Australia until February next. The directors recommended the termination of all arrangements connected with the fund, any eventual small surplus to be distributed amongst the shareholders pro rata. Although £IO,OOO was raised by the shareholders, of which New Zealand contributed £IOOO, when M. Shalski took charge, there is about £4500 in hand to carry on his engagement, which ends on September sth.

(Received June 2nd, 11.45 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 2. In the course of a letter to Sir Arthur Rickard, chairman of the trustees of the State Orchestra, M. Verbrugghen states he will not give up the wider field in America unless some real understanding is arrived at. He will not allow sentiment to override commonsense. He gives the terms on which he will remain in charge of the State Orchestra, namely, a salary as conductor at the rate of £ISOO per year and his position as director of the State Conservatorium to be made permanent at a salary of £ISOO per year, on the understanding that, should the orchestra cease to exist, his salary as director should automatically rise to £2OOO per yem-