CORRESPONDENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 153, 2 December 1938, Page 10

CORRESPONDENCE

MUSIC AT THE EXHIBITION

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Lately, a few letters to the Press have stressed the advisability of engaging a first-class musician to conduct a symphony orchestra during the season of our 1940 Centennial Exhibition. Some correspondents deplore the fact that although a military band j has been engaged no mention is made of a symphony orchestra, and some extravagant suggestions have been made regarding the famous maestro Leopold Stokowski, who, it was later pointed out, would cost far more than! our budget would permit, even if he was available, which is extremely doubtful. In any case, this "overseas" complex is being overdone, and if we care anything about the true spirit of our own Centennial we should search among our own folk for the ideal man. We need a man who has strongly identified himself with music in New Zealand and with New Zealand music —one who is, through his experience, capable of interpreting a wide range of orchestral works. Who else but New Zealand's own Alfred Hill? He lives now in Sydney, and, apart from [what he himself calls the "accident" of his birth (he was born in Victoria land lived the first eighteen months of [bis life there before coming to New ! Zealand), considers himself a New Zealander. Alfred Hill has done more for New Zealand music than any other conductor-composer, and is- the only' man whose New Zealand music has approached the immortal. His capabilities ,will not be denied. Many will remember his conducting of the famous New Zealand International Exhibition Orchestra at the Christchurch Exhibition in 1906 and a review of his musical activities in Sydney during redent years will prove that this famous "New Zealander" is thoroughly capable and competent. I feel sure, too, that Alfred Hill himself would be delighted to receive and accept such a generous gesture from his adopted country.—l am, etc., JOHN F. WOODWARD.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —In these enlightened days it is distressing to notice in a letter signed L. D. Austin one "very obvious reason" why Leopold Stokowski should not be invited to visit Wellington for the purpose of conducting orchestral concerts during the Centennial Exhibition. This correspondent, in spite of the general realisation of most thoughtful people of the retrograde influence that the bigoted nationalism at present so fashionable in certain European countries has upon our alleged culture, apparently seriously considers that being a foreigner is sufficient to debar Stokowski from "Being eligible for the position of conductor. He mentions Sir Henry J. Wood, Sir Thomas Beech am, Mr. Percy Grainger, and Dr. Malcolm Sargent as acceptable candidates for the position. Possibly Mr. Austin might wish to further restrict such a proposal by insisting that only music by British composers should be presented. While not suggesting that the choice of either of the first two conductors would not be a great treat for music lovers in this part of the world, I feel sure that, knowing the international appeal of good music and our great debt to foreigners for same, none of the gentlemen named would concur with your correspondent's views.—l am, etc., EQUITY.