Conductor will move after concerts

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33654, 2 October 1974, Page 1

Conductor will move after concerts

The musical director of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (Mr Vanco Cavdarski) will conduct the orchestra in three more concerts in Christchurch this year. He said yesterday that in December he and his family would move to Hobart, where he was the chief conductor of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. He confirmed that he had a long-term contract with the Tasmanian orchestra. Mr Cavdarski’s family has been living in Bishopdale, but he said he had already enrolled his two boys in a school at Hobart for next year. The conductor arrived in Christchurch this week from Tasmania for rehearsals and.

to conduct the subscription concert on Saturday. He would fulfil his Christchurch obligations until his contract with the orchestra expired on November 11, and beyond that date, said Mr Cavdarski. Three of the engagements involve the two remaining subscription concerts of thi Symphony Orchestra, next Saturday and on November 9, with Rita Streich, and the last of the Sunday popularclassics concerts on November 17. Choir concert He will also conduct a Christchurch Royal Musical Society concert on November 23 featuring a concert performance of the opera “Fidelio” and a Christchurch School of Instrumental Music youth concert on November 27. Mr Cavdarski said the de-

parture of the Symphony Orchestra’s leader, Mr Louis Yffer, was a great loss for the orchestra and for the musical life of Christchurch.

“Mr Yffer has a position as leader of the Elizabethan Trust Orchestra in Melbourne, which plays for opera and ballet companies. “He is a fantastic success. He has a big solo in Tchaikovsky’s ‘Swan Lake,’ and the ovation he receives after every performance stops the show.” Mr Cavdarski said Mr Yffer had hoped to play with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra in its remaining concerts this year, but because of the orchestra’s administration problems there was no-one with whom he could satisfactorily negotiate. The orchestra’s deputy leader, Mrs Marjorie Sutton, would probably become leader. Mr Cavdarski described as “absolutely disgusting” the failure to pay some players in the orchestra.

He had not been placed in such a position, and had been paid. The conductor said it was a tragedy that the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council had decided to suspend funds for the orchestra. “This sort of thing was done two years ago with the New Zealand Opera Company. Cutting the source of

finance by those obliged to support the arts is not the way to build a culture.” Mr Cavdarski said it was difficult to talk about any future relationship with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. “I have been so happy to have worked with the orchestra, which has done a fantastic job during the time I have been with it.” He said he recently played tapes of a concert to a group of music teachers in Australia. “They thought it was the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and were surprised to learn it was the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.” Mr Cavdarski said he did not wish to attempt to pinpoint the cause of the orchestra’s trouble. “What has happened ! speaks for itself. It is a pathetic and tragic situation, and people can see for themselves.”