Russian to conduct N.Z.S.O. in concert

Press, 15 May 1985, Page 23

Russian to conduct N.Z.S.O. in concert

Berlioz, Berg and Poulenc are the composers whose music will be performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra at its concert in the Christchurch Town Hall on Saturday evening. The conductor for the concert will be a young Russian, Leonid Grin, and the soloists, Carl Pini and Maurice Till, and Wendy Dixon.

Regarded as one of the outstanding younger conductors in his native country, Leonid Grin had established a sound reputation for himself before applying, in 1979, for an emigration visa. Arriving in the United States in 1981 he was chosen by Leonard Bernstein for the first Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute the following year.

He is now head of conducting studies at Houstoun University.

Leonid Grin made his British debut in 1983 and returned for a second Proms season last year. Carl Pini and Maurice Till, who play Berg’s Chamber Concerto, are members

of the staff at the University of Canterbury’s School of Music.

Carl Pini began his musical career in Europe following his father, a distinguished cellist. Carl Pini played violin and has held several teaching appointments as well as forming his own chamber groups.

He came to New Zealand in 1982 to teach at the School of Music, having previously been a guest conductor with orchestras in New Zealand. Maurice Till has appeared many times as a concerto soloist with the N.Z.S.O. and has also been a soloist with the Sydney and South Australia Symphony

Orchestras. In more than 90 concerts he has played a wide range of works and has given New Zealand first performances of concertos by Khachaturian, Dohnanyi, and Rawsthome. In 1981 Maurice Till returned to Christchurch after 10 years on the staff of the University of Otago. He combines teaching with a schedule of public recitals. He also serves on boards and councils of various music organisations. Wendy Dixon was an honours student at the University of Auckland and since graduating has given numerous recitals and taken several opera roles. She has appeared frequently with the orchestra and is a regular recording artist with Radio New Zealand and Television New Zealand.

The programme for Saturday’s concert is Berlioz’s Overture, Les Francs-Juges, Berg’s concerto and Poulenc’s Gloria, which Wendy Dixon will sing with the Christchurch Harmonic Society.