International music-making

Press, 4 March 1978, Page 2

International music-making

: A Czechoslovak cellist ! now living in Canada and a New Zealand pianist will play Russian and German music together in Christchurch this week. The pianist is Chrstine Cuming, of Auckland and the cellist, Zdenek Konicek, well known to Christchurch music-lovers from his sojourn at the University of Canterbury with the Prague Quartet, and later the Czech Quartet.

For Zdenek Konicek, the highlight of returning to Christchurch will be the Town Hall. : When he left Christchurch ito take up a position at 'McMaster University, near Toronto, five years ago, the I hall was only partly completed.

He is greatly looking forward to seeing the finished building and to hearing the acoustics, which he had been told so much about.

“My friends in Christchurch sent me pictures of it when it was finished and have written to tell me all about it,’’ he said yesterday. “I am really excited to be seeing it soon, and to be able to play in it.” In order to attend the festival, Mr Konicek had to

leave his post at the university, as well as his position of director of the nearby , Royal Hamilton College of Music, at the height of the music season.

Mr Konicek, who arrived yesterday afternoon, is also very enthusiastic about meeting Aaron Copland, the American conductor and composer. “I met him about four years ago at the university in Hamilton. I was very impressed with him as a conductor, as well as composer, human being and personality.” ■ Another great interest for him will be to hear the Christchurch orchestras. “I haven’t heard orchestral playing here since 1972 — there was only one orchestra then, and there are two now,” he said.

“Christchurch is not a big enough city to have two orchestras,” he said. “For the sake of the city, they should concentrate on having just one good one.” In 1968, Mr Konicek left Czechoslovakia with the Prague String Quartet which was in residence at the University of Canterbury for a year. In 1972 he returned to

form the Czech Quartet of the University of Canterbury. Because it is illegal to leave Czechoslovakia and to

stay out of the country without permission, he cannot return. If he did, he would never be able to give concerts outside Czechoslovakia again. For Christine Cuming, one of New Zealand’s top pianists, music is total dedication, to something that she loves. She was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council bursary in 1969, which enabled her to study in Vienna, Salzburg and London.

“The Arts Council faces a difficult situation in sending New Zealanders on overseas study bursaries because of the money involved, but I think it does a marvellous job in enabling people to go,” she said. She returned to New Zealand five years ago and her time is now spent teaching private pupils in Auckland and performing with various orchestras throughout the country. Miss Cuming and Mr Konicek will play at two, hour-long lunchtime concerts in the James Hay Theatre, featuring music by Shostakovi c h , Brahms and Proikofiev.