CREATING MUSICAL TASTE

Evening Star, Issue 23325, 22 July 1939, Page 4

CREATING MUSICAL TASTE

AND LOVE OF MUSIC LIFE WORK OF BROADCASTING NOtED CONDUCTOR'S OPINIONS Professor Georg Szell, the noted conductor at present visiting Australia, in the discussion on whether wireless has been an advantage or disadvantage to music, unhesitatingly agrees with those who feel that broadcasting has been a good thing for music. STUDIO AUDIENCES WELCOMED. That, he suggested, had been demonstrated by the manner in which the new. policy of celebrity concerts in Australian suburbs had been received. “ The experience in the Melbourne suburban concerts was one of the most gratifying I have had,” he said. “ I proved what I have always contended, that musical appreciation is not to be measured by the wealth of the listener. It has been a pleasure conducting for the suburban concerts in Melbourne, and I dm looking forward to the experience here in Szell, at the same time, naturally prefers a live audience to an inanimate of ad appreciative audience is definitely, beneficial to a performance,” he said. “ It is not that 1 am actively conscious of the presence of the audience once a work is started, but rather that I feel that others are sharing the experience With me. That is why when lam giving a studio performance for the air. I like to have a few picked listeners with mo.” BROADCASTING A BOON. “ Broadcasting has been a boon,” he said, “ because it. Has created in appreciation 0f... good music in quarters which previously had no opportunity, or very little opportunity, of knowing that there is such a thing. There is ample evidence to show that very many people have become interested in good music through their: radio sets, which have given thehi a first-hand knowledge which most of them might otherwise never have had. After learning to appreciate it, many of them find their way to the concert halis.” Professor Szell added: “ You would never have thought of using a noiseless typewriter if you had not seen one in operation,” he said. “ Well, great numbers of people who now frequent the concert halls would riot be .there if wireless had not given them the taste. It is the reverse of the .generallyquoted process. In this instance supply has created the demand.’