EMINENT PIANIST

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 104, 30 October 1933, Page 10

EMINENT PIANIST

MR. ANDERSEN TYRER'S VISIT

PRAISE FOR LOCAL TALENT

Praiso for the Wellington Symphony Orchestra, with which he will make his first public appearance in New Zealand on: Thursday night, was given by Andersen Tyrer, who is* regarded competent critics as the foremost British pianist of the day, in an interview with a "Post" representative today. Mr. Tyrer said that at the rehearsal held yesterday morning he had really booh very much surprised at tho high standard attained by the orchestra, and he was confident that a good all-round performance would be given on Thursday.

Speaking of symphony orchestras in general Mr. Tyrer said he thought that each of the four principal centres in New Zealand should have its orchestra. In Manchester tho famous Halle Orchestra gave twelve concerts each season for school children alone, and in Durban and Cape Town the orchestras maintained by the city councils wero paying propositions -with their ' weekly concerts. The first few concerts had attracted small audiences, but now it was a case of having to book seats in advance. At one concert in which ho had participated there -was an audience of 4000 people. In Durban, a: smaller city than Wellington, he had given seventeen concerts, all of them to packed houses. In England the members of' the symphony orchestras were all professional players, Mr. Tyrer continued, and that was one of the reasons for their high technique, but from what he had heard of the Wellington Symphony Orchestra it contained splendid talent which did full justice to the music. Mr. Tyrer spoke interestingly of the projected visit to Australia, and possibly New Zealand, next year of Sir Hamilton Harty, tho famous conductor, with whom he had had the pleasure of playing many concertos. "I consider him tho greatest conductor of the day," he remarked. "Incidentally, ho was best man at our wedding." FEATS OF MEMORY. Mrs. Tyrer recalled that her husband had written from memory tho whole of tho orchestral score of tho Arcnsky Concerto when it failed to arrive from England in time for a concert in Durban three years ago. The same scor« would bo used for tho performance of the concerto for the first time in New Zealand on Thursday night. He had played from memory during one season in England thirty-two piano concertos under the batons of all the most eminent conductors. Referring to his .work in tho Dominion as examiner for Trinity College, Mr. Tyrer said that he had found a very good average standard. He was on tho lookout for some outstanding candidato to 1111 the requirements of the overseas scholarship offered by the college for the first time this year, and open to young people between tho ages of fifteen and seventeen in any part of the Empire. The scholarship would be offered annually. It entitled the winner to three years' freo tuition, £150 a year maintenance, and a second-class return passage. Until tho examinations were completed it was impossible to say whether any New Zealand candidate was worthy of the scholarship. After the pleasant stay ho and Mrs. Tyrer had enjoyed in New Zealand he hoped the Dominion would bo the first unit of tho Empire to win the prize. Mr. Tyrer mentioned that ho had completed a concerto on ,tho trip out to New Zealand, and this would bo presented with tho Hallo Orchestra in Manchester next February. Ho and Mrs. Tyrer would be leaving for England direct shortly before Christinas.

Mrs. Tyrer is a violinist of note, and she will probably be heard on the concert platform beforo sho and Mr. Tyrer return Homo.