What Friedman Said

New Zealand Listener, Volume 9, Issue 218, 27 August 1943, Page 8

What Friedman Said

HE Polish pianist, Ignaz Friedman, declared in Adelaide, where he is giving recitals, that Australia’s music was a tragedy that made him weep. "Australians have talent,’ he_ said. "Next to Italians, Australians have the most glorious natural voices in the world. Your audiences are good, you have a keen sense of music, but nothing comes out of the country. You tell me Melba came out of Australia. But Melba had to work like a devil, and then she got her récognition in Europe. It was in Europe, not in Australia, that Peach Melba was first made. "Twenty years ago I came here,’ added Friedman, "and you had no symphony orchestras, and still you have no symphony orchestras. You cannot go on : for ever making the excuse that you are young. Musicians should have far more encouragement from the Government and from wealthy people in the com: munity. "You can spend thousands of pounds bringing racehorses here. Surely you can spend something in bringing musicians here. I know I will get 20 or 30 anony‘mous letters telling me what a nasty /man I am, but I am used to that. I do not mind, so long as the writers remem- , ber to put stamps on. I say these things because I think Australia is worth doing something about. 3 Examinations and Donkeys "Your musical examinations fill me with horror. A young girl spends half a year learning to play one piece until she plays it very well. Then she learns out /of a little book the answers to some ; questions, and then she can put some letters of the alphabet after her name She does this several times, and then she starts teaching, and you have the awful situation of one donkey leading other donkeys. "When the war is over, Australia must get good musicians from othe: countries to, come here to teach and to play. If you don’t want European musicians, get them from England and America. Music here is only a hobby, A man is a lawyer or a plumber by day, and thinks he is a musician at night. It may be a pleasure for him, but it is no pleasure for the audience. Some of your brass players ought to be sent to the East to break down the walls of Jericho. All musicians should be _ professional musicians."