FRIEDMAN HAS NOT CHANGED
GNAZ FRIEDMAN has not ‘changed since his visit to New Zealand just over a year ago. His playing of Chopin has the same brilliance; he himself has lost none of his friendliness, and his wise, genial conversation. He is settled now in Sydney, and likes Australia so much that he is quite happy to stay there for the duration of the war. "Where can I go?" he asks, with a wave of his hands. "I try to return to Europe, and I get as far as Lisbon and I am
bottled up. I prefer to be bottled up in Australia." His stay in this part of the world, however, is a long way from interfering with his music. He had been in Australia two months when the war broke out, and since then he has given over 100 concerts in Australia, New Zealand, and the Dutch East Indies, and has made a home in the suburb of Vaucluse, Sydney. His tour of the Dutch East Indies was made at the invitation of an old-estab-lished musical society which has arranged tours by many famous celebrities. Mr. Friedman gave 22 concerts in various
centres in Java and Sumatra, found the audiences appreciative and highly musical, and hopes to return there again. He has considered visits to South Africa and America, but restrictions on travelling being what they are he is quite happy to remain in Australia. Sydney, he thinks, contains as high a proportion of musical talent as anywhere in the world, though he is a little critical of Australian teaching methods. " Nowadays," he points out, "we seem to concentrate on getting quick results, but you can’t get good results in music quickly,
And it’s -all’ very well to: know >the moderns and to know how to play or appreciate the latest composition by Ravel or Bartok, but first of all should come deep study and appreciation of the masters. Culture is like a thin. red thread running through life; how foolish to uy to grab it with one kangeroo jump." Mr. Friedman’s tour of New Zealand is lasting a month, and he has no plans ahead of that except to return to Australia. "What is the use of making plans while this war is on," he says. "I have many good friends in Australia and I find life pleasant. Does it really matter so much whether one makes a lot of money?"
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 5, Issue 128, 5 December 1941, Page 9
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405FRIEDMAN HAS NOT CHANGED New Zealand Listener, Volume 5, Issue 128, 5 December 1941, Page 9
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