AN EMINENT PIANIST.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18182, 19 September 1924, Page 14

AN EMINENT PIANIST.

HAAGEN HOLENBERGH IN CHRISTCHURCH. Yesterday a representative of ""The Press" had a short chat with Mr Haagen Holenbergh, the Danish'pianist-, ab° u t his profession and his career. Mr Holenbergh, who is now touring the Dominion, has come from Northern Europe, l'roni'"Ultima Thule," in Scandinavia. He is the eldest son of an old Danish family that save one prominent statesman to thJ country. "It is this part of the world, the antipodes of New Zealand, that has been lor so rnasy centuries the home of song,'-' said Mr Holenbergh. "Tho famed Northern Lights, tiij marvellous coming of the spririg-tinn», .t&o' golden', summers. ' and the snow-burdened winters—ail the wit::hory of Nature breeds in the hearts of' tlto inhabitants' a lovo of the art of song,' equalled nowhere else in ths world.

Mi- Holonbergii's natural lovo of music was stimulated in his early years, in-Cooo-nlia-gcTi, the "Athens ol tho North*."' Here he siiew up, studying music and visiting Iho forests of the north coitsts of Sjaelland, near the aucient castl-e .of Elsinore, haunt-ed, so lesrend savs. bv the ghost of Hamlet and of his father.' As a .small hoy ho heard Gado plav the orjian, and later in life he met "Grieg in tho musical circle's'of his home town. The personality oi' this great Norwegian vastly impressed the youthful pianist and inspired him with a love and enthusiasm for tho music of modern Scandinavia. i n Mr Holenbergh went- to Dresden, Berlin, and other musical centres, and beeatne a. pupil of Madame Kappokii, the famous Hungarian Court pianist, who described him as "a quite oics-p----tionallv tidented musician';" He later und-erwent a further course of study with/Frante Neruda, the famous conductor. and brother of Lady Halle. Then followed his wander years. ' With visits'to Europe, Russia. Sweden. England, Italy, Canada, the United States, and later China, Japan, Egypt, the South Sea Islands, India, and Australia. ...

In addition to being a -famous pianist, Mr Holenbergh is an accomplished lecturer and writer. His musical repertoire comprises almost every ancient, romantic, and modern school, from Bach, Chick, and the old French elaveeinists of the Rococo age, to Beethoven, Schumann, Chopi". and Liszt. H© is peculiarly intimate with tho Scandinavian composers, Grieg, Binding, Uange-Mueller, Sjocgron, Sibelius, Nord'raak, and others. In reply to a question as fo playing before notabilities, Mr Holenbergh stated that lie had had the signal ljqn•our of performing: before the King and Queen of Denmark, who paid him high compliments. \- He has appeared three times as soloist with the New South Wales' State Orchestra, under Henri f Verhrugghen, and given many.recitals in Australia-