He Does Not Like Women In Orchestras

Northern Advocate, 27 April 1940, Page 10

He Does Not Like Women In Orchestras

Professor Schneevoigt, Finnish conductor, does not like women in orchestras under his baton because their presence prevents him from swearing when he wants to. “They cramp my style,” Schneevoigt said in Melbourne. The professor recently said that women should be home, producing families, rather than playing instruments in orchestras. Today, at his first public appearance since he made this statement, he conducted the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, which is largely composed of women. Flayers Protest. When he mounted his rostrum he found a note from the women players, protesting against his remarks. Suddenly the professor shouted: “I do say that women should marry and live at home." Dr. E. L. Bainton, director of the State Conservatorium of Music, said that Schneevoigt’s statement was fantastic and ridiculous. “Some conductors prefer to have no women in the orchestra, so they can let themselves go when expressing abhorrence,” he said. "That doesn’t apply to Pretessor Schneevoigt because he let himself go in spite of women being there. Not Commonsense. “There is no commonsense in Schneevoigt's criticism. The view that women can’t stand the strain of rehearsals has long been disproved. “Every woman cannot become a mother. Much of the best work in orchestras is done by women.” Women members of the A.B.C. Symphony Orchestra said that they were frightened of reprisals if they discussed Professor Schneevoigt’s attack on them. Six women members of the A.B.C. orchestra declined during an interval at rehearsal to comment on Schneevoigt’s statement. “You never know what might happen if we said what wo thought," one said.'