Piano concerto competition

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32543, 1 March 1971, Page 12

Piano concerto competition

The audience filled the Civic Theatre on Saturday evening for the finals of the piano concerto competition, organised and sponsored by the Christchurch Civic Music Council.

The preliminary auditions for the competition were held last December when Dr lan Parrott chose Christine Lockwood, Patrick O’Byme, Michael Houstoun and Richard Mapp to be the finalists.

Dr Douglas Mews was the judge at this concert, and the Civic Orchestra was conducted by Professor John Ritchie and led bv Mr Louis Yffer. EXACTING TASK

Playing four concertos on one programme was an exacting task for the Civic Orchestra, and the members rose to the challenge splendidly. Without an orchestra capable of playing these works almost as part of ordinary duties we could not have this culturally valuable competition, and musical opportunity for talented young players would thereby be so much lessened.

All competitors were well served by the orchestra whose crisp attack, pleasing tonal colourings, balance and expressive awareness, were to the fore in all performances. Professor Ritchie directed with a secure understanding of the style of playing demanded by each work, and the players responded by giving all the finesse his sensitive interpretations required. Christine Lockwood played Mozart’s Concerto in A major, K. 488. Aged 15, she is a pupil of Miss B. H. Bartlett in Palmerston North. Patrick O’Byrne played Beethoven's Concerto No. 4 in G major. Also aged 15, he is a| pupil of Mrs R. McCartney, | at Turangi. Michael Houstoun; played Liszt’s Concerto No. 21 in A major. He is a pupil of j Mr Maurice Till and is aged 18. Richard Mapp, 18. is also a pupil of Mr Till, and is also of Christchurch. He played Khachaturian’s Concerto in D flat. HIGH STANDARD

The standard of playing was very high and was obviously enjoyed by the audience. At the end of the concert Dr Mews showed the audience what were the basic requirements of interpretation of music at solo performance level, and announced his decisions. He awarded the first prize to Michael Houstoun, the second prize to Richard Mapp, and the'third prize to Patrick O’Byme. The prizes wei. donated by Stars (Travel and by Mr A. M. SatIterthwaite. The third priza,

for the competitor under the age of 18 who gave the best performance for his age, he gave to Patrick O’Byrne. The prize was given by Sedley Wells, Ltd.—C.F.B.