Famous Conductor To Open City Festival

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30442, 16 May 1964, Page 17

Famous Conductor To Open City Festival

Sir Malcolm Sargent, the famous conductor, had agreed to open the Pan-Pacific Arts Festival in Christchurch next February and to conduct concerts by the Victorian Symphony Orchestra which would comprise 100 members for the occasion, Mr J. Collins, chairman of the festival’s executive, announced yesterday.

Sir Charles Moses, general manager of the Australian Broadcasting Commission, said the orchestra would be specially trained by Mr John Hopkins for the occasion, so, knowing the standards of Mr Hopkins, the committee knew that the first orchestra of the commission to go overseas would be of the highest artistic standard. Mr Collins said. "This will be one of the greatest art festivals ever held in New Zealand, and as with the Adelaide Festival, will cover most sections of the arts,” he said. He outlined the purposes as:

i 1. To promote a wider appreciation of the arts in New Zealand and to foster and promote goodwill and understanding among the peoples of the Pacific.

2. To promote the name of Christchurch overseas from the tourist angle and at the ‘same time give countries of the Pacific the opportunity of ; cultural exchanges with New Zealand. Most countries of the Pacific would be represented on the programme. Local artistic organisations and artists from the city and other parts of New Zealand would be playing an important part in the festival. Because of its cultural background, layout, flowers and size, Christchurch was ideal as a venue for an arts festival, Mr Collins said. Festivals were not for big cities where they were inclined to be “lost”—they were at their best in places such as Bath, Edinburgh, Salzburg and Adelaide. City’s Advantages The executive believed Christchurch had all the qualifications, and even had advantages over Adelaide in that scenic attractions such as the Hermitage and Hanmer Springs were close by for visitors, and the city was within easy distance of other tourist attractions.

Since last September, a special arts committee comprising Messrs C. Foster Browne, D. W. Rutherford, John Kim, Paul Pascoe, T. Kincaid, Professor H. Simpson and Professor J. Ritchie and himself had been at work and had a basis of an excellent festival, Mr Collins said. A target of £lO,OOO from the business community had been set by the executive, which consisted of himself as chairman and Messrs H. P. Smith, H. G. Hay, A. R. Guthrey, E. J. Bradshaw, J. I. Colllgan, H. E. Radley, R. H. Ballantyne, A. I. Cottrell, R. H. Stewart, Pascoe and Kincaid. Already more than £6OOO had been assured. Requests to business firms were for £250 guarantees, Mr Collins said. Public Support "Although you cannot stage a Pan-Pacific Arts Festival without Pan-Pacific artists, at the same time Pan-Pacific artists do not make a Pan-Pacific Arts Festival,” he continued. “It requires the interest and enthusiasm of the citizens of the city to fully back the festival and to do all in their power to see that the city

derives the maximum benefit. “The festival will require the full-time attention of experienced people connected with the arts, and much voluntary assistance will be required from representatives of the arts, the business community and the citizens.” If that could be achieved, Christchurch would have an arts festival greater than anything ever held in New Zealand before and something of tremendous value to the] city as a future tourist attraction.