FINNISH COMPOSER

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 175, 21 April 1937, Page 16

FINNISH COMPOSER

Professor Schneevoigt at Sydney

Professor Georg Schneevoigt, the eminent Finnish orchestral conductor, arrived by air in Sydney last week under engagement to the Australian Broadcasting Commission.

“They tell me I am the first musician to come by air. I know 1 shall not be the last,” said the professor to the “Sydney Morning Herald.” “If it were not for the long travelling time, many famous artsits would be prepared to visit Australia.” In spite of his fatigue, Professor Schneevoigt gave an impression of considerable mental alertness. White of hair and stocky in build, he had a genial twinkle in his eye as he talked. “I have brought with me a good deal of music by Jean Sibelius,” he said. “This composer is not only Finland’s greatest, but one of the most commanding in the world to-day. He is more than 80 years of age, and his musical work seems to be done; but notable people from all countries still travel to Finland especially to visit and converse with him.

“There are many notable composers in Finland beside Sibelius. The outside world seldom hears of them, because their works exist only in manuscript. Music publishers in Europe no longer find it profitable to print orchestral scores. The Finns are producing a finer body of music than the composers of any other country. Australia will hear some of it, for I have a good manv manuscripts with me. “My admiration for my own countrymen does not blind me to the great achievements of the English composers,” he said. “I was a personal friend of Elgar, and 1 often conduct his music in Finland. Gustav Holst and Vaughan Williams are two others about whose work I am enthusiastic. I shall certainly conduct Hoist's ‘The Planets’ in Australia. “All the Scandinavian capitals have fine orchestras; and all these bands are subsidised by the city or by the State, as represented in the radio stations. In Helsingfors we have 85 players. The men are engaged by the civic authorities for the whole year. They give 18 symphony concerts, for each of which there are eight or nine rehearsals They also play in popular concerts on Sunday afternoons—for these only one rehearsal is allowed —and at the State Opera during a seven or eight months' season. As the orchestra is so large, we can give some of the musicians a rest from time to time. Even so, the players have a busy life. In a city of 400,000 people, I think our record is not a bad one! ' “Still, the best orchestras are in America. The money is there to attract the finest musicians. In Germany they have driven away all their best conductors. Of the ones who are active at present I consider only Furtwangler to be in the first class.”