MUSICAL APPRECIATION

Evening Star, Issue 21992, 30 March 1935, Page 8

MUSICAL APPRECIATION

INCLINED TOWARDS THE CLASSICAL The scheme for a national opera and the suggestions made by its sponsor, Sir Benjamin Fuller, were commented on recently by the Assistant-Director of Education for Australia, Mr A. W. Hicks, who had just returned from abroad. Artistically, he declared, Australia, was far behind other countries in the facilities provided for good music and drama. Mr Hicks found great crowds from all walks of life attending the performances by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the Chicago

Exhibition. The expenses of these performauces were met by Henry Ford and Swifts Ltd. Large crowds also attended the concerts of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. In New York the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera season had been extended time and time again. In England Mr Hicks found that the Sunday afternoon concerts by. Sir Thomas Beecham were crowded t® the doors. A similar spirit had prevailed in Austria and-Italy for many years. Night after night in Vienna, Florence, Milan, Rome, and Naples opera was played to crowded houses.A good deal of the interest in America' and England Avas due to the fact that the broadcasting companies were cooperating in developing the musical appreciation of the general public. Mr Hicks was also impressed with the work done in the American and English' schools to develop a sense of appreciation of all forms of art in the pupils.-