WILL NOT LEAVE ENGLAND

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 September 1940, Page 8

WILL NOT LEAVE ENGLAND

SIR HENRY WOOD SAYS “NO.” LONDON, July 6. Sir Henry Wood, the famous 71-year-old conductor, refuses to leave England. He intends to go through with his 46th and farewell season of Promenade Concerts, in spite of the war. He declared this week: “My Proms will go on despite Hitler—unless the British Government close down or curtail them, I shall come back next, year, like the evergreen prima donna, and have my final eight weeks’ season.” Sir Henry is determined to stay in England and do what -he can for music during the war, despite a tempting offer from Canada to conduct 30 or 40 concerts throughout the Dominion, the terms to include free travel and hospitality and generous fees. “But I shall stay in this country for the war and after—just as I did in 1914-18. After the war I shall try to revive music to its peace-time level. “During this war I. think the troops should hear more classical music. I suggest that some of our older musicians be put into khaki—and that we should go out and give concerts all over the country to troops and munition workers. Sir Henry told of his plans “for his 46th season at Queen’s Hall, London. Sir Henry will conduct 49 concerts, and, with rehearsal time, he expects to put in between four and five hundred hours work in the eight weeks of the season. More than 39 symphonies will be played and despite the war, every Monday night will be Wagner night. But Sir Henry is proudest of including 40 works by British composers in addition to 16 first performances by British composers. x ’