Subsidies To Arts Supported

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32360, 28 July 1970, Page 18

Subsidies To Arts Supported

Yet another overseas artist believes that in order to survive the arts must receive Government subsidies.

The Italian-born American pianist, Anthony Di Bonaventura, said in Christchurch last night that because of the huge expenses involved these days in the arts even the contributions by generous philanthropists were not enough

Mr Bonaventura said that the New York Metropolitan Opera Company played throughout the year to a 97 per cent house capacity yet ended up in debt this year

to the tune of millions of dollars.

The fear in the United States appeared to be that if the Government became involved it would be inclined to say how the money should be spent—but this fear was not warranted, said Mr Bonaventura,

Some progress, admittedly slow, was being made in the direction of Government grants to the arts in the United States, and this was largely because the arts seemed to have a low priority, he said. Tonight Mr Bonaventura will give his first solo recital in New Zealand in the Civic Theatre. Although he has been playing extensively in North America and Europe he will still put in some hard rehearsal this afternoon. Rehearsal Time

The time spent in rehearsal was very important as every piano was different “A pianist has to get used to it in a very short time if he is to do justice to the performance and the audience," he said. Mr Bonaventura said he preferred live concerts to recording, as recording was basically a lie whereas the actual performance was basic truth in that the artist strived for perfection. “The recording is really a triumph for the recording engineers and has nothing to do with music,'’ he said. “What you hear did not, in essence, take place. The recording is really a compilation of numerous tapes of the same work in order to achieve perfection.” A man of catholic tastes, Mr Bonaventura does not prefer any one composer to another. He plays a wide choice —all schools, all periods and i all kinds of composers. “No, I am not myself Interested in composing. I find it tremendously invigorating just trying to recreate the in- ’ tentions of the composers,” ! he said. J Collecting Hobby His present tour is one of I his longest away from his

wife and family in New York, after New Zealand Mr Bonaventura will spend three months in Australia.

His hobby is collecting mainly musical items and art objects. His collection includes first editions of scores, composers’ letters, medals and original photographs. Stamps also come into the collection; Mr Bonaventura Intends to buy the latest issues of New Zealand stamps. Bom of Italian parents in

West Virginia 38 years ago, Mr Bonaventura is the youngest and most famous of a family quartet of child prodigies.

Mr Bonaventura was 13 when he was soloist with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra in a concert for the young.

Four years ago he did a tour sponsored by the State Department that included Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Hungary, Sweden and Luxemburg.