THE NATIONAL ORCHESTRA

New Zealand Listener, Volume 26, Issue 667, 18 April 1952, Page 5

THE NATIONAL ORCHESTRA

Sir,-It is disturbing to find, in the printed comments on the National Orchestra both in your own columns and in the daily press, nothing between eulogy and irrelevant remarks on its cost to the unmusical taxpayer. One can’ well understand that no critic wants to previde ammunition for the enemies of culture; but is it really in the interest of anyone to pretend that the orchestra’s present performances are consistently good or even enjoyable? Full publicity was. given to Mr, Bowles’s statement that there is: apparently little appreciation of good music in Auckland; but there was no suggestion that lack of support for the recent concerts here might be due to a low standatd of playing. Everyone in this country can hear recordings of good music we played; and many have.attended concerts. by first-class orchestras overseas. This being so, it is unrealistic to assert that music-lovers are, or ought to be, enthusiastic about playing which, for example, is far too often faulty in intonation: where the brass blares and the strings, in an effort to be heard, achieve only edginess; and where the total effect is of an instrument about as sensitive and responsive as a brass band. I am personally a whole-hearted supporter of the National Orchestra as an institution. It would be foolish to expect that in such a short time, it could be already first-class; and I hope that it may prosper and improve. I look forward eagerly to the time when attendance at its concerts will be not only a public duty but a pleasure. But I am sure that no service is done to the conductor, the players or the public by continual undis¢riminating praise.’ All that

the absence of constructive criticism is certain to achieve is a lowering ards (already perhaps noticeable) accom. panied by ill-founded complacency,

P. H.

MONTAGUE

(Auckland).