N.Z. CONCERT AUDIENCES

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27993, 13 June 1956, Page 14

N.Z. CONCERT AUDIENCES

MUSICAL EDUCATION AND FEELING

MALCUZYNSKI: “YOU ARE TOO MODEST”

“In New Zealand you are too modest saying that musically you are ‘just beginners,’ that you are not educated musically,” said Witold Malcuzynski in an interview last evening. “And even if you are, *more important than musical education is musical feeling—and that you have.” In proportion to its population New Zealand must be one of the most musi-cally-minded countries in the world, he said. “Where else would I have to play 15 concerts to a population of two million? Certainly not in Sydney. I was most surprised when I found how many concerts I would have to give.”

This is Mr Malcuzynski’s first Ne Zealand tour, although he played Australia seven years ago. In tl lonth he has been here he has glv<

four concerts in Auckland, four, in Wellington, and one in Hamilton. Last evening’s was the first of three in Christchurch.

His last concert in Auckland, when he played to a packed house of 3000. be considers his best of the tour so far. “It was during their festival there, and the audience were most appreciative. There was a good atmosphere. and they were in a mood to appreciate good playing. That atmosphere is most important.” Wellington audiences were also good. Although the piano there was new, and so a 'little difficult, he felt that with more playing it would become an excellent instrument. Limits of Specialisation Mr Malcuzynski has made a name for his interpretation of Chopin, his countryman, but, he said last evening, “I don’t believe in this specialisation. One cannot play Chopin without playing Brahms, Bach, Liszt and the others. I also include modern works in my New Zealand programme, including two pieces by the Polish composer Szymanowski, who died just before the war.”

Although the music festivals were popular in Europe today, and many great artists played at them, he would rather rest during the summer, said Mr Malcuzynski. “But after this tour I will be returning to my home in Montreux, Switzerland, where I will play at their festival in September,” he said. “That is because it is near my home, and I will not have to travel to it.”

Last evening, before his performance, Mr Malcuzynski was waiting for a telephone call from his wife. She crossed to Sidney in the Dominion Monarch, arriving yesterday, after being with her husband for the first four weeks of his New Zealand tour. “I hear it has been a terrible crossing, and she is not a good sailor, either,” he said, pushing a worried hand through his greying hair.