VIVID PERSONALITY

Evening Star, Issue 20898, 15 September 1931, Page 6

VIVID PERSONALITY

BALOKOVIC SPEAKS VIOLINIST STUDENT OF THE WORLD MODERN COMPOSERS DEVOID OF EXPRESSION Passionately enthusiastic for his art, ardently cosmopolitan, yet delightfully simple in his thought and outlook, a true citizen of the world and a vividly attractive and engaging temperament, Zlatko Balokovic, the Slav violinist, who arrived on his private yacht, the Northern Light, yesterday afternoon, is undoubtedly one of the most unusual, interesting, and forceful of the personages who have ever visited New Zealand.

Balokovic is a remarkable man. Unlike most artists, he is not completely sunk in-music; and he is unspoiled by his independence. A man of affluence, he loves his art, and he is developing it, as he conscientiously believes that his mission in the world to-day is to give happiness to those who can respond to beautiful music. In his stateroom on the yacht, his castle, home, and studio, Balokovic yesterday spoke with gripping sincerity of music and the world. . .

“ It is unfortunate that most artists coniine their interests chiefly to trying to achieve fame, and to develop a certain financial independence by the shortest cut,” said Balokovic, with feeling. “I do not believe in that. _ I play because I love music and the violin, and because I think that at the present moment I can be most useful in giving happiness to those who care to receive it. My programmes will show that I play only good music, for I have to satisfy myself as well as my audience. I realise that the particular appreciation given to an artist who is willing all the time to learn and to profit by meeting so many different representatives of the various, nations is of inestimable value to his spiritual and mental improvement. If I should later on see how I could help my. country in some other way I should not hesitate to place my services at its disposal.” As a student of the world, Balokovic can travel in leisure and comfort on his yaclit, and escape from the fetters which bind travellers with wealth. He hates the cupidity, stupidity, idiocy of the world, over-balancing completely its greater philanthrophy. Still a young man, he is resolved to escape the fate of so many other brilliant artists, who waste their time, their lives, and their talents moving m the best social set, making and losing money. “ They are done before they are forty,” lie said. ■“ Believe me, nothing comes out of a man which is not in him. Compare these people with the musicians of older days, men like Schubert and Mozart, who wrote because they had to write, because the spirit compelled them. The modern tendency to artificiality goes hand in hand with the increasing emphasis on technical display. Music, I feel, has two purposes—to move the heart and to thrill the senses, of which the first is incomparably the greater.” And. although this vivid Croatian detests society which cannot see anything beautiful in life and always criticises negatively, he is keenly alive to the affairs of the world, international relations, the problems of race and science, politics, and even religions. He is greatly interested in the science of politics, not the practice. By Jiving simply and meeting the leaders of thought and administration in every country, Balokovic has built an intellectual foundation for his playing. He is wonderfully enlighteiied and tolerant* in his views. ' . " Balokovic declares that there is no education like that of life. Although music has most of liis time— _ too violiu is an instrument of infinite capacity; one may always study and learn ” —he studies humanity. And what mind would not be improved by close association with distinguished people? Within a fortnight, Balokovic and his wife entertained at their chateau on the Riviera, Paderewski, “ one of the worlds sweetest and humblest men, I ntz Kreisler, Austen Chamberlain, and Marsaryk, “ the greatest living statesman ” and president of Czecho-Slova-Modern music was in an experimental stage, said the violinist. With very few exceptions most modern' composers desired to express themselves in an unusual way, but unfortunately they had nothing to express. They concentrated mostly on modern orchestrations—lots of cacophony and unusual rhythms. The old fields had. been exhausted by the great masters in the past two centuries, and modern composers had to look for some new forms of expression to create interest. But he was compelled to candidly admit that they had little to say. They were poor in their inventive powers; in other words, they lacked originality. The only great character among the moderns was Stravinsky. He was the most vital and revolutionary of them all. He was fertile, n idea, and had an exalted imagination His ‘ CEdipus Rex ’ was a. phenomenal work, with all the stimulating qualities, depth, and dignity of Greek tragedy. Scriabiue died too young. Had he lived he would have done great, things. Though still living Rachmaninoff was old-fashioned, yet interesting, but he was 'not of the young revolutionary school which sees things. The Poles had a very talented composer in Szymanowski. He was a very gifted Pole. The feature of his music was his wonderful way of harmonising, and he spoke a language all his own. He had written some intriguing caprices, some on Paganini themes, and all showed a new quality. His ‘La Fontaine d’Arethusa ’ was a most engaging work 1 for the piano and. violin. Of the Russian school Prokofieff was a most arresting young composer. Germany possessed quite a few talented musicians, but not one of outstanding merit. The same could be said of England and France. The modern composers were groping in the darkness. Newspapers were the mirror .of a nation’s life, aspirations, experiences, and happenings, and nothing showed New Zealand to better advantage than its journalism. Throughout Europe and America Jig had not found newspapers which compared to New Zealand publications for cleanliness., constructive thought, and political fairness. A Slav, he always felt himself at one with the Anglo-Saxons. Politically they were the most highly-developed people in the world. No other country could boast of such a number of marvellous diplomats as England. A few months before the war he met Kitchener, the first great Englishman with whom he had become acquainted, and on his travels since ho had met many distinguished Britishers. Even since leaving San Francisco on his present tour he had met the Governors of Fiji, New South Wales, and Queensland, and the Governor-General or New Zealand, After meeting all ranks of people Balokovic treasures a rich admiration for the diplomatic representatives of England, and he thinks New. Zealand is singularly fortunate in having such men at its disposal to act as Gover-nor-Generals. It was enough, he said, to mention the names of the last three representatives—Earl Jellicoe, Sir

Charles Fergusson, and Lord Bledisloe.By sending such renowned sons to New, Zealand England showed its high respect of New Zealand. No other nations showed such unbounded generosity as the Anglo-Saxon race, and another, great quality was the_ sportsmanship behind their every action. During the war Balokovic gave many concerts for relief funds, working with' such goodwill that Pope Pius Sl.x created him a knight of the Order 06 St. Gregory. Germany has been one; of his favourite countries in which to; give recitals. It is a country unlike any,’ other, where no fewer than 250 firstclass recitals may be given in succession,The Gormans, Balokovic stated, were very well disposed towards England.: The Germans boro England no animosity whatever, and he could not possibly believe- that the venomous expletive “ Got Strafe England ” was tin thought of the mass of the people. On his travels Balokovic carries his two Strad violins. They were on the floor in his cabin when a 4 Star ’ man interviewed him yesterday—£l6,ooo worth! One is the famous “Ernst” Strad, sold by Ernst’s widow. David Lawrie, the violin dealer, had it for some time after sale by Ernst’s widow. Lawrie sold it to Lady Halle, and the instrument was purchased on her death by a wealthy man in Munich, from whom Balokovic obtained it at aJ great price.