Kostelanetz at the controls

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32450, 10 November 1970, Page 27

Kostelanetz at the controls

(N. 21 Press Association) AUCKLAND. Nov. 8. The international conductor, Andre Kostelanetz, arrived in Auckland yesterday after having flown himself part of the way to New Zealand. Mr Kostelanetz, who used to hold a pilot’s licence, finds it difficult to stay in the passenger’s seat when he is in an aeroplane. On the way to New Zeiland the urge to conduct a flight in a small aircraft became too much for him. ‘‘l took over the plane and flew it over the Philippine Islands,” he said. “And it went all right because we arrived in New Zealand.” Mr Kostelanetz is visiting the country as a guest of the* New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation, and will make his first appearance as guest conductor of the N.Z.B.C. Symphony Orchestra in Masterton on November 19. He will conduct works by Saint-Seans, Cesar Franck, Grieg and Wagner. Now 68, Mr Kostelanetz has been a conductor since he was 19. For the last 17 years he

has conducted the New York Philharmonic Orriestra and ■ has worked as a rsgular guest conductor with 4>any leading orchestras irr/the United " States as wellis other leadB ing orchestrasthroughout the v world. ./ Mr Kostefmetz is known " for his inte'est in youth and ’ believes i» educating the i public to have “as broad a j; musical education as possible.” He liMs both contemporary '"classic# music and modem "'pop ntisic, but emphasises ° that musical tastes change J’ I with knowledge and time. ‘I As well as being a conduci tor, Mr Kostelanetz is some- □ thiag of a linguist. He speaks “ English. French, German, ; Italian, Russian, Spanish and J i “little bit (»f Chinese.” - ; Mr Kostefanetz is paying 'his first visit to New Zealand, ; one of the few countries he ' has not visited. ; “I have had several letters ' from fans in New Zealand,” 1 he said “I find these very ’ hearteffig.”