Support in Chch for orchestra ‘declining’

Press, 22 May 1978, Page 7

Support in Chch for orchestra ‘declining’

Christchurch support fori the New Zealand Symphony' Orchestra has fallen so* much that the number ofi concerts to be given in thei city is in question, the dis-1 trict manager of Radio New ■ Zealand (Mr E. G. Rowell) has said. f | ' - Mr Rowell was commenting on a article in "The Press" in which Dobbs ! Franks, the' music director of the Canterbury Orchestra Trust, said that, the national orchestra had played to a packed house at its last concert in Christchurch. “Sadly, this is far from correct," said Mr Rowell. “The total audience at the I concert was 1460. which ■ means there were more than 11000 empty seats in the (Town Hall Auditorium.

j “There is no doubt that, I support for the orchestra in |.Christchurch has been decl-j lining, not only through a re-1 !duction in the number ofi I subscription bookings, butj Through ■ lower attendance (figures. There may well be many reasons for this state ( of affairs but .the orchestra ; management -cannot ignore lit. I “The story quoted Mr NisIbet, the orchestra’s general manager, as, having doubts about the, futuie of. the annual subscription series in Christchurch. It is not just the subscription arrangement which concerns Mr Nisbet. What he must really consid-j : er is whether the orchestra! i can afford to present as! i many concerts in Christ- j i church in the future. The! support it gets at its re-1

i maining concerts this season must, very largely, deterjmine what happens in the (future," Mr Rowell said. Commenting on Mr Roti well’s remarks, Mr Franks said that an audience of almost 1500 at the concert was a “healthy” number and indicated good support for the orchestra. Varying audience sizes were a problem that must be faced with subscription concerts. “An audience of almost 1500 is a lot more than the actual number of subscribers to the national orchestra,". Mr Franks said, j It would be a sad day j when the number of con- ; certs in Christchurch had to Ibe reduced or done away I with, he said.