Cultural exchange a success

Press, 15 July 1987, Page 22

Cultural exchange a success

r So successful was the • Finnish-New Zealand cul- *: tural exchange, begun last year, that a similar swap ; with Sweden is being - organised. The Finnish-New Zealand project saw New • Zealand conductor, L William Southgate, coni'- duct 10 concerts in Finland during seven weeks in late 1986. ; William Southgate’s trip » was the first half of a reciprocal arrangement -.- which will bring a Finnish ; conductor, Leif SegerZ- stam, to this country in : 1989. In March and April ■ of that year Segerstam and his violinist wife, J Hannele, will present 10 < concerts throughout New f Zealand. The music - played will feature works ' by Finnish composers. The New Zealander in- £ strumental in getting the «. exchange off the ground 2 is delighted with the j results. Haydn Rawstron says k the exchange has fired the imagination of those ,involved. William Southgate has already been invited back by the orchestras he worked with " last year. His return visit ■ in 1989 will include the Finnish premiere of his symphony, commissioned by a Christchurch busi- ; nessman to coincide with the announcement of the ‘exchange last year. That symphony will be played in Christchurch for ; the first time next year by -the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. The conductor is at present work- , ing on the second of three movements. William Southgate has . called his symphony, • “Symphony From the Old : World.” , ; The exchange project • includes a Finnish commission also. Aulis Salli- ; nen, a noted Finnish com- » poser of orchestral music : and operas, will live in New Zealand from November, 1988, to ■ March, 1989, and write an ; orchestral work for the ■ N.Z.S.O. to be premiered in New Zealand in 1990. Sallinen’s composition ; may incorporate voice ’ and New Zealand poetry. The work has been commissioned by the orchestra and has been : underwritten by an indivi- • dual. The orchestra hopes to organise a sponsorship for the commission. Other spin-offs from the

musical exchange include possible television documentaries on each country for screening in the opposite country and the exchange of singers, dancers, instrumental soloists and conductors. The exchange has also generated trade arrangements.

Mr Rawstron said a second Finnish conductor and soloist would tour New Zealand about the same time as Segerstam to work with the regional orchestras. The response to the Finnish project prompted those responsible to organise a Swedish exchange. Already six orchestras in Sweden are keen to engage William Southgate for concerts in 1989. He will go to Sweden after his return visit to Finland.

Because Southgate proved so popular in Finland and much of the success of the initial exchange was because of his contribution he was the conductor chosen for the Sweden swap.