ORCHESTRAL MUSIC

Evening Star, Issue 22414, 11 August 1936, Page 10

ORCHESTRAL MUSIC

NOBLEST FORM OF EXPRESSION MR JOHN AMADIO'S VARIED INTERESTS The value of good orchestral music as a form of expression of beauty, and the need for a greater number of young players to study woodwind and brass instruments, were points emphasised by Mr John Amadio, who retains the reputation of being the greatest of living flautists, in an interview with the ‘ Evening Star ’ this morning. “In my opinion, the weakest sections of an orchestra are usually the woodwind and brass,” he said, “ and to be able to inculcate a love of woodwind and brass is of vital importance to the future of symphony orchestras. Hundreds of players concentrate on playing string instruments, but only a few turn to the wind instruments. Playing in brass and military bands is excellent training for musicians who wish to enter the ranks of orchestras. “ In Australia .1 lectured at several of the high schools, recommending the formation of school bauds, and I tried to persuade a greater number of students to take up wind instruments.

The most noble form of music is given expression by fine, orchestras. Australia is interested in and is giving encouragement to symphony orchestras, and the Australian Broadcasting Commission is making a special feature of symphony concerts, which is all to the good. it would' be a splendid thing if a national symphony orchestra were formed in New Zealand for broadcasting and to supplement the fine orchestral concerts' already available in the towns Orchestral expression of the best music is more easily enjoyed and understood by the layman than when given in any other form. That is my studied opinion. “ I always feel a pang of . regret when I go to a theatre and find the orchetra pit sadly vacant and beautiful music from a good orchestra substituted by a mechanical means of reproduction. Theatre orchestras were always an incentive to people to study seriously for a career as instrumentalists, as it was a means of livelihood and was a pleasure to themselves and to the public. _ • . Mr Amadio’s interests are by no. means centred in music. Certainly he has concentrated largely on flute playing, but he has also earned some fame as a chess player. He is an ardent ohess enthusiast, and his brother-in-law, Mr H. Hi Gundersen, has been the chess champion of Victoria on many occasions. While in London a few years ago Mr Amadio had the pleasure of meeting Capablanca, the famous Cuban player, and he watched with

interest while the great exponent played several men at the one time. Tennis is a game that has attracted Mr Amadio, who terms it his “ personal recreation,” while he is extremely fond of watching llugby football. It is one of his proudest distinctions that he went to school in Wellington with Billy Wallace, a famous member of the 1905 All Blacks. “ I shone in reflected glory then,” he explained. Perhaps it is not generally known that Mr Amadio was born at Christchurch, afterwards going to Wellington. where, at the age of six years, he commenced playing the flute. It was his step-father, Mr Anthony Amadio, who gave him his early training as a musician, and “ he has been my valuable guide and counsellor right up to the present time,” he added, “ although I received great encouragement from Mr Charles Hill, of AVellington, brother of the famous Alfred Hill, whose Maori melodies . are so well knotwi both here and in Australia.” In addition, Mr Amadio is a keen contract bridge • player and enjoys good literature. On his tour through New Zealand, which has been organised by the National Broadcasting. Service, he is accompanied by hie equally famous wife, Madame Florence Austral, an Australian operatic soprano, who has met with success after success in all the chief musical centres of the world. Together they have visited many countries. Madame was hailed in the United States as peerless among the sopranos of the world, while Mr Amadio was given one of .the proudest moments of his life in that country. “ I was offered first flute in the famous New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, then under the baton of the great Toscannini,” he explained. “ but being privileged to be the husband of a prima donna, which meant giving joint recitals with her all over the world. I was unahle to accept.”

When the broadcasting tour in New Zealand is finished Madame Austral and Mr Amadio are to give three concerts at the end of September in Honolulu,’ afterwards going on a three

months’ tour of the United States of America, where they will make appearances with all the great orchestras. This will be their seventh tour of America. Then they are to return to their home in London before commencing a tour of Great Britain, giving joint recitals with the great violinist, Josef Szigeti.