MUSIC AT THE EXHIBITION

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 138, 8 December 1938, Page 8

MUSIC AT THE EXHIBITION

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—The letters signed J. F. Woodward and "Equity," on the above subject in Friday's "Post," merit some comment. The former correspondent is of opinion that Mr. Alfred Hill should have been included in my list of possible conductors of the still hypothetical symphony orchestra at New Zealand's approaching Centennial Exhibition. I assure Mr. Woodward that this outstanding musician was not overlooked, for his fine achievement in a similar capacity at Christchurch is well remembered. But that happened many years ago and my impression is that Alfred Hill's active participation in music has now definitely concluded. If, happily, I am wrong in this surmise, no doubt he would be just as pleased to conduct here next year as we should be to have him. From the point of view of public attraction, however, it would seem desirable to procure a conductor of world-wide celebrity. Wellington's music-lovers have not forgot-

ten the astonishing effects produced by Dr. Malcolm Sargent from our local orchestra two years since, and it requires little imagination to envisage what might be done with that same body of players by other still more renowned conductors. In reply to "Equity," I should like to say, Sir, that if he knew me better he would hardly have drawn such a "distressing" inference from my remarks about Leopold Stokowski. I am certainly no narrow nationalist in matters relating to music, but I maintain nevertheless, that it would be more fitting to engage a British musician in connection with a purely British undertaking like our forthcoming Centennial Exhibition—more especially as orchestral conducting is the one musical sphere in which British exponents can hold their own.. There are at least four English conductors who are the equals of Stokowski, but, unfortunately, England is without the type of wealthy philanthropist that finances musical enterprises such as the Philadelphia Orchestra. All this,' however, is beside the point until we get an authoritative pronouncement from the Exhibition promoters regarding the proposed scope of musical entertainment at Rongotai. During the recent Glasgow Exhibition a great and successful feature was made of orchestral music, in addition to military bands. The question, therefore is: Are we to have an orchestra at Rongotai, and, if not, why not?— 1 am> GtC- L. D. AUSTIN.