MUSIC AND TOURISTS—III Prospects & Handicaps

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29746, 13 February 1962, Page 10

MUSIC AND TOURISTS—III Prospects & Handicaps

(Specially written for “The Press" by C.F.8.) Although time and much thinking and planning may be needed before Christchurch can take its place among cities famous for festivals, it may be helpful for us to look at how things are tending in that direction, where future markets for tourists can best be found, and what immediate steps can be taken.

Music and general conditions in Christchurch should encourage the hopeful as well as inspire the reformer. Without going into any detail. I would suggest the following improvements and trends as being encouraging and showing some of the signs of change. We have seen a great advance in the work of the Chamber Music Society. It has attracted large audiences to its concerts, and shown how bringing the best overseas artists to perform here is financially possible under proper organisation. Along with this there is the courage of the University Council and the Music Department in founding a resident string quartet at the university. The possibilities of this are very great. Nor must we forget the great impetus which the former University String Trio gave to musical life here.

Orchestral music has advanced in strength and quality with the foundation and progress made by the John Ritchie String Orchestra. It is a particularly hopeful sign that the city council, the councils of neighbouring boroughs and counties, and other well-disposed bodies and peoples have made financial grants to the Christchurch Orchestral Foundation, so that orchestral work here may be advanced. Choral Societies The standard of our choral societies continues to be enhanced. The invitation to the Royal Musical Society to go to Adelaide this year shows that our horizons are widening. Both the Harmonic Society and the Royal Music Society have frequently appeared at concerts in other parts of the Dominion. The increased number of visits from overseas artists not only has given much pleasure and a heightening of the idea of standards here, but it also shows the courage of the various enterpreneurs. who often sustain considerable loss in bringing them here. It is to be regretted that Christchurch audiences lag in their support of some of these, ventures. The fact that so many artists can fit in a visit to New Zealand and still fulfil their European engagements shows how air travel no longer leaves us a far-flung outpost from the world’s artistic centre Only those who remember the barren times before the founding of the National Orchestra can be fully aware of its worth to our musical life An improvement in the choice of some of the music played here will help us even more.

The newly-formed Arts Advisory Council has shown by

its giving to ballet and to the New Zealand Opera Company that it is aware of the need for these two essential concomitants of festival work and civilised entertainment. In other matters than music there are many encouraging signs of change. Indirectly these changes will help in establishing an atmosphere in which festivals can flourish. Nearly half a million travellers used the Christchurch International Airport during the last year. This indicates that we have the means of bringing audiences to Christchurch if what we offer, musically and in other ways, can be made sufficiently imaginative and attractive. The increase in the number of good coffee houses and of places serving a dinner which approaches European choice and cooking is also to be welcomed Giving wine licences to some restaurants—although more will be needed—shows glimmerings of light in the murk. Our general licensing laws unfortunately arouse amused amazement abroad. The very considerable improvement in the making of some New Zealand wines is a rewarding sign of progress. Making many of our scenic resorts readily accessible by air should not only encourage tourists, but can also help to make our musical activities an aid to the tourist industry before all the facilities of festival life are with us. By occasionally providing some good orchestral concerts or even some of the smaller operas and operettas at sue hplaces as The Hermitake or Milford Sound, when large numbers of overseas tourists are there, would not only provide work for our musicians, but should advertise larger musical enterprises.

Further Short-term efforts in a festival sense could be undertaken when tourist ships visit us. It would be necessary to know fairly well in advance when they are coming, and the standard of

entertainment offered would need to be high. Tickets for special concerts could be sold in advance on the ships. The concerts need not be of the usual “Civic Theatre” type, nor need they be held between the apparently sacrosanct hours of 8 p.m. and 10.30. All I ask is that they shall be very good, and that they may eventually lead to such cruises being organised for people who will come in search of music imaginatively presented, as well as to enjoy the other good things which the country has to offer.

Jpur main difficulty in Christchurch is the lack of a good concert hall. Provided

that we are careful to see that what we eventually get is thoroughly satisfactory for modem conditions, and for future development, then our present lack can leave us • clear field of operation. Here, at the risk of seeming to be contentious and obstructive, I must say that I do not think that the present and long-enduring campaign for a “town hall” is likely to produce exactly what is needed. It is so long since we began campaigning for a town hall that modern trends in concert promotion have moved away from that type of building. A town hall for Christchurch first means a proper block of offices for the city government, with a concert hall attached. Usually such a hall is too big, and there is so little money left for it that it cannot be built in accordance with modern requirements. There is generally not enough space to give the concert hall a decent approach and attractive surrounding, nor room enough to allow for future development. What the musical and general community life of tots city needs is a festival hall, well away from the mayoral offices. Most places which now have only a town hall wish that they had something else: and the great majority of cities now have their concert halls and community centres away from the council offices. I do not think that the great efforts which have been made in recent years for a town hell have been inspired mainly by a burning desire for new council offices (necessary though these may be), but for a concert hall and for a place where the cultural life of the city may expand and be enjoyed. I suggest that it also should be a place where the tourist life of the city could gather, and people could have opportunity to be ted and entertained in pleasant surroundings, and that it should be the real hub of the city’s life. Potential Visitors One final word about our potential market for tourists. A European fest.val city has a large population, I from Europe alone, at its doors to draw upon. On . the other hand it has much ■ competition from other centres. With modern air transport we have the large ' population of the western seaboard of the Americas • only a few hours away—- . about the time it would take to go from London to Vienna iby train. Coming on a . cruise by sea, the traveller i can have all the beauty of , the Pacific islands to enjoy on the way and may cruise ; round our lovely fiords and . coastline when he arrives. ' We would not have as ’ much opposition as European • cities. Furthermore, there 1 are our Asian neighbours. We ' need these people as friends, ’ and also as consumers of our produce. Surely they should • not remain unknown to us. Surely they should be given i good entertamment ■when i they visit us. I (Concluded)