DEBUT IN AIR RAID

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24419, 3 October 1940, Page 14

DEBUT IN AIR RAID

NEW ZEALAND ARTIST (From Our Own Correspondent) LONDON, Sept. 9. A young New Zealand pianist made a highly-successful, though infoi'mal, debut at the Queen's Hall. London, during the air raid on August 31. He is Mr Colin Horsley (Wanganui), now a student at the Royal College of Music, where he has been working for the past two years under Herbert Fryer. After the conclusion of the promenade concert conducted by Sir Henry Wood, the audience was invited to carry on an impromptu entertainment for the benefit of the hundreds of people who chose to stay till the raid was over. Mr Horsley was an early volunteer. Performing at 1 a.ra. made his opening a little nervous, but he soon found himself and delighted his first public with his renderings of Liszt’s “ Feux Follets ’’ and Chopin Etudes. One of his most appreciative listeners was Sir Adrian Boult, conductor of the 8.8. C. Symphony Orchestra, who had previously contributed to the early morning’s music by performing with a much-reduced orchestra —on the triangle! Mr Horsley will take part in a promenade concert at the Queen’s Hall on October 2, when he will play a concerto in D minor by Bach for three pianos and an orchestra.