THE NATIONAL ORCHESTRA
Sir,-Hard on the series of Promenade concerts in the four ceftres will come the official announcement of the programmes of the Natidnal Orchestra, and the usual-appeal for subscribers. Tt is ‘a’ well-known and_ melancholy fact that the number of subscribers, even in a larger city like Auckland, is nowhere near as great as it is in Wellington where the orchestra spends most of its time. One at least of the reasons-and it is one that affects everybody-is that in centres other than Wellington the subscriber has on four different occasions during the season to attend two concerts in one week with only one night between them, whereas in Wellington, I understand, the subscription concerts are more evenly ‘spaced over the season. It is quite useless, I know, to protest. against this arrangement for economic reasons. It just isn’t possible to keep the orchestra in Auckland or Dunedin to allow a longer interval between concerts. There are nevertheless two suggestions I should like to make, which may possibly increase the number of subscribers; firstly, a "half" subscription, which might tempt those for whom two major concerts in the space of three days may appear too formidable at first; and secondly, a reduced subscription (whole or half) for young people, Now that music is taken much more seriously in schools than it used to be, there are many potential concert-goers to whom the National Orchestra could offer a reduction with advantage. This should apply particularly to members of bodies like the Auckland Junior Symphony Orchestra, who have produced some sterling performances, but who should be encouraged to go and hear other players more experienced than themselves. If the suggestion of "half" subscriptions were adopted, some thought would have to be given to the content of each series of concerts. That is-a challenge that the NZBS should be able to take up. Now that Mr. Robertson is beginning his first full season, the time seems opportune. He is obviously not a man afraid of new ideas.
A. C.
KEYS
(Auckland).
(Professor Keys’s first suggestion will be considered in relation to the 1956 subscription series. School children in the main centres have regular opportunities to attend free. recitals; in provincial centres, visited by the National Orchestra at longer intervals, half-price tickets to all parts of the hall are available to children. + ¢
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19550325.2.11.1
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
New Zealand Listener, Volume 32, Issue 817, 25 March 1955, Page 5
Word count
Tapeke kupu
390THE NATIONAL ORCHESTRA New Zealand Listener, Volume 32, Issue 817, 25 March 1955, Page 5
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Material in this publication is protected by copyright.
Are Media Limited has granted permission to the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa to develop and maintain this content online. You can search, browse, print and download for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Are Media Limited for any other use.
Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
Copyright in the Denis Glover serial Hot Water Sailor published in 1959 is owned by Pia Glover. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this serial and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the Listener. You can search, browse, and print this serial for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Pia Glover for any other use.
Log in