PETER COOPER

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25737, 24 February 1949, Page 3

PETER COOPER

CONCERT TOUR OF N.Z. AND AUSTRALIA

(From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, February 11. Described by the music critic of “The Times” as “a pianist with exceptional sensibility to sound.” Peter Cooper will leave London this month to give a series of concerts in New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. He is under contract to give a number df broadcasts in Australia, appearing with symphony orchestras, and will also undertake country concerts under the auspices of the Arts Council. While in New Zealand, he hopes to have the opportunity to play concertos with the National Symphony Orchestra. Mr Cooper was born in Christchurch, and educated at St. Andrew’s College. He served during the war with the Australian Army, and gave more than 150 concerts for the troops in New Guinea, Borneo, and Australia. He came to England when he was demobilised and is now a regular broadcaster for the 8.H.C., being heard on all the services, including the Third Programme, which is the goal of all tsrious concert artists. He has also appeared in a recital for the television service. In Europe, he has broadcast for Radiodiffusion Francais, and for the Swiss Radio, and also appeared in Milan last year for the British Council. Recently he has lived in Switzerland for a period, studying with Edwin Fischer, one of the greatest pianists of our time. He has an extensive repertoire, but prefers the romantics to the moderns. The most “modern” concerto be plays, in fact, is Ravel’s. The eminent music critic, Neville Cardus, wrote of one of his post-war recitals: ‘‘Mr Cooper has arrived at an enviable variety of technique, a musical tone, warm blended harmony, beauty and clarity of inner parts, and timing most eloquent and natural. . . . Here is yet another of Australasia’s young pianists of tomorrow—perhaps the best of the males, given reasonable experience.” Mr Cooper expects to arrive in New Zealand, after his Australian tour, in May, and will play in all the main centres, and several country towns in the North Island. He will, however, give only one concert in Dunedin. “Other artists who have been there recently,” he said, “say it is most unrewarding. They describe it as a town somewhat lacking in taste for cultural matters, and unwilling to support artists who are prepared to go to the time and trouble to exhibit their talents there.”