MUSICAL JUDGE UPSET.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 276, 26 October 1925, Page 10

MUSICAL JUDGE UPSET.

POOR PIANOFORTE PLAYING. CONTESTANTS CASTIGATED. HAMILTON, Oct. 22. "Never in nty life have 1 heard such an awful standard of work,” said the judge, Mr Barnard Page, of Wellington, in making the awards in the piano test solo at the Hamilton competitions. Referring to one competitor, Mr Page said he sauntered out leisurely and played a lovely minuet by Paderewski m a manner that was an insult to the judge, the audience, the society, and the composer himself. His attitudo as lie turned round to the audience seemed fairly to shout, “Look at me — it doesn’t matter about listening to me.” Mr Page said that if this competitor had had his deserts ho should have been ordered off the stage within 10 seconds.

Several other entrants were subjected to similar ruthless criticism. One in particular, the judge said, appeared to he under the impression that lie was playing in a jazz orchestra. A gold medal had been offered for competition in this class, but the judge said ho would not consider awarding it. “If one of theso competitors were to don the medal,” Mr Page remarked, “he or she would be taken cither as a liar or an impostor, while 1 should go down in musical history as a fool.” Mr Page said it would bo misrepresentation to- award a first prize, and on second thoughts, he would award a second prize .to a competitor who brightened up her piece toward the end and gave a fair rendering, .