PIANOS FOR CONCERTS

Evening Star, Issue 25619, 20 October 1945, Page 6

PIANOS FOR CONCERTS

DOMINION'S POOR RESOURCES DUNEDIN'S FACILITIES DISCUSSED Tours of the Dominion by seve- . ral celebrity pianists this year hsve shown, perhaps for the first time, how limited are the resources of the country in pianos suitable for such artists to play. Dunedin is better equipped than the other main centres in that two concert grand pianos' are available for performers, but the visitors have not been completely satisfied with either instrument. New Zealand's shortcomings in pianos for local and visiting musicians havo been brought into prominence by a change in practice necessitated by the war and the shortage of both instruments and shipping space. Before tho war it wr.s, the custom for pianists to bring their pianos with them. Most eminent players have a special fancy for a particular make of piano, and make it a rule to play only on the products of one manufacturer. Paderewski, for instance, is said to havo brought five pianos for a tour of Australia and New Zealand, and to have disposed of the well-worn instruments at the end of his tour. War and early post-war conditions have made it impossible for musicians to bring their own pianos, even if they could buy new- instruments, which is doubtful, and so they are at present relying on those provided by municipalities in concert chambers and halls. Many pianos in local halls are in a deplorable condition, and so the pianists have encountered some shocks. The South African pianist, Isadore Goodman, was the first to state_ publicly his reactions on encountering a variety of indifferent instruments, many of them badly worn. The Palestinian pianist, Miss Pnina Salzman, -who was recently in Dunedin, was more' restrained in her comments, and _ said she had no ddubt that when pianos become available again most local authorities' possessing concert halls would buy new instruments. Her optimism in that direction is not supported by the experience of the past. AUCKLAND'S DIFFICULTIES. Auckland is said to be in the unfortunate position of having no instrument fit for a piano recital. No doubt, local performers and the lesser celebrities have to accept such resources as local halls have to offer, but in the, case of Miss Salzman a piano was sent from Wellington for her Auckland concerts, and taken back 1 for the Wellington series. As she paid a return visit to Auckland, it was not found possible to send the piano on a second visit, and during her Dunedin visit she expressed some trepidation about her final concert. The Dunedin City Council received a gift of two concert grands when the Town Hall and Concert Chamber were opened. As that is more than 15 years ago it can be expected that both instruments will be showing results of extensive use. Considerable- sums have been spent on their maintenance, but during the war materials for renewals of parts have been difficult to obtain.

The two instruments available, in Dunedin vary in their action and touch. At the moment the piano in the Concert Chamber is better favoured by players, and it has recently become the practice to use it in either hall. Both pianos -would probably benefit from a complete renown! of the hammers, which is not possible at present, but should receive consideration from tho < City Council when materials are available. One City Council in New Zealand which received a gift of a grand piano for concert use, established a special fund to which were applied all the fees paid for the use of the instrument. This money will ultimately be spent on the purchase of a new piano. This is a system which might well be adopted in other centres to ensure that suitable instruments are available for visiting musicians.