Orchestra "should tour’

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33235, 26 May 1973, Page 3

Orchestra "should tour’

An overseas tour should be made by the N.Z.B.C. Symphony Orchestra, which was an important orchestra by overseas standards and which could do a great deal for New Zealand's prestige overseas, the orchestra’s principal conductor, Brian Priestman, said in Christchurch last evening. As the only full orchestra in the country, the orchestra should also be known as the National Orchestra, he said. An overseas tour, which could well include the United States as well as Asian countries, would be “vastly expensive,” Mr Priestman said, but it would show that New Zealand had a culture, and cultural talent. “Nobody’s heard of New Zealand arts elsewhere in the world •—they, think of sheep and butter.” New Zealand tended to be too bashful about its cultural achievements, he said. If a New Zealand national orchestra made an overseas tour it would be a success — even more so if the orchestra was accompanied by one of New Zealand’s great choruses, both of which happened, at present, to be in Christchurch. “There is everything to be gained by New Zealand

showing to the rest of the I world that it exists as a cultural nation,” he said. New Zealand did not even have a national music council, he said, and this must' come. Mr Priestman said New Z.ealand also needed a national opera company very badly: opera in- New Zealand was at a poor level for a country which had provided! the world with so many great singers, he said. A national opera company: should work closely with the national orchestra", and indeed would be the jumpingoff place for a national orchestra company, he said. The opera company could have a three-month season each year, and should cover the full spectrum of works. As principal conductor of? the N.Z.B.C. Symphony Orchestra. Mr Priestman willl spend three months each year' in th's country. He is al so ■ Late Advertisement DEATH BRIGGS, Bertram—On May 25,' 1973, at Greymouth Hospital,' dearly loved husband of Agnes Grace Briggs, of 139 Brougham Street. Westport, loved father) of Valerie <Mrs Hollingsworth),l loved granddad of Phillip, Beryl.l: and Jillian, and loved brother of Doris (Mrs Metcalfe. England).! Hagedorn’s Funeral Service.' Westport. Boyds Real Estate M.R.E.I.N.Z. 7B Normans Road. ! 554-884 or 517-793. , We can give you accurate; advice and immediate confi-i dential service.

r director of the Denver Sym- > phony Orchestra, and "will . spend six months of the year there, >! He was married in March ’ last year, and he and Mrs | Priestman live in Denver, I have a flat in London, anti . lease a villa on the Italian ’ Riviera — “our hideaway for ! the summer." I Mr Priestman. who was . born in Birmingham in 1927, has conducted many of the world’s leading orchestras, •and has made many live and recorded broadcasts for ’ radio and television. 1 Mr Priestman conducts L about 120 concerts a year—■each comprising about four ’ works — and his typical 1 working day includes five ’ hours of rehearsals and ‘’ several hours of office work. ’ The latter includes planning 1 concerts and itineraries years oahead. ‘ He says he has no time ’for hobbies, and has never really had time to think ’ about those he might take j up: “I don’t know . . , mayj be whittling sticks ...” Mr Priestman said his I ambitions were geared to the . | organisations which wished ’lto use him. He was at the J age where he was no longer f a “brilliant young conductor t ,with a great career ahead of jhim,” nor one of the “older r masters” of conducting — he (had reached what could be >| described as a productive ji plateau.