“TURNING BEETHOVEN"

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1000, 17 June 1930, Page 14

“TURNING BEETHOVEN"

MUSICAL TREND IN AUSTRALIA

VISIT OF BACKHAUS

“The Australian music world is appearing to be turning Beethoven.” This opinion was advanced this morning by Miss Madeline Clarke, representative of E. J. Gravestock, Limited, who arrived by the Maunganui this morning to complete arrangements for the New Zealand tour of the famous pianist Wilhelm Backhaus. Miss Clarke said that although Backhaus had always been deeply influenced by Beethoven, of later ‘ years he had become more and more under the spell of the master’s great music. He was very pleased on arriving in Australia to find that there was a keen demand for Beethoven. So great that instead of the one all-Beethoven concert he had planned for each city he had to give two at each place. At Canberra, where Backhaus gave one concert, he was accorded an official welcome by Mr. Scullin, Prime Minister of Australia, and at Sydney by Mr. T. R. Bavin, Premier of New South Wales, who said that Backhaus, by his visit, would gild the clouds of depression that hung over music in Sydney. At Canberra, Miss Clarke stated that the interest shown in Backhaus’s visit was so keen that it was found unnecessary to send an advance agent there, all the arrangements for the concert being undertaken. by local musical organisations. In Sydney, the pianist gave eight concerts and ten in Melbourne, breaking the record of his previous tour. Despite the fact that Zealand in the past has not given sufficient support to warrant the visits of musical celebrities Mr. Gravestock has decided In view of the great popularity of Backhaus in New Zealand to include the Dominion in the tour. The New Zealand tour will open at the Town Hall, Auckland, on Thursday, July 3, and following the Auckland season concerts will be given at the four main centres.

The pianist will arrive at Auckland by the Aorangi at the end of the month, when he will spend a few days holiday before commencing his New Zealand tour.