Richard Farrell

Northland Age, Volume XVII, Issue 83, 20 July 1948, Page 2

Richard Farrell

Recital in Kaitaia / It is not often that country districts in New Zealand away from the main centres have the opportunity of hearing top-rank pianists. In the Auckland Province the Community Arts Service was instrumental in bringing Lili Kraus to a much wider circle of listeners than could have heard her otherwise. Now the same organisation is fortunate in arranging country recitals for Richard Farrell, New Zealand’s brilliant 21-year-old pianist, who is at present giving concerts in the four main centres for the New Zealand Broadcasting Service. Richard Farrell will appear before a Kaitaia audience in the R.S.A. Hall on Saturday night, July 24th. This young virtuoso’s career has been in many ways a fairy tale one. From the age of two he was able to take pleasure in selecting records he liked. At four he sang French songs over radio networks. And at 10 he had written a lament on the death of Archbishop Redwood. He has always possessed perfect pitch, and acquired early the sympathetic understanding of major works for the piano. Several years at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music (his diploma was gained there at the age of 16), prepared him for his greatest opportunity ... a place among the 100 scholarship holders of the renowned Julliard School of Music in New York; and most important of all the tutelage of the famous teacher, the late Madame SamaroffStokowski (who only took 10 of these scholarship holders). She predicted a glowing future for him. And at 21, he is well on the way to justifying her confidence. One example will serve to show his extraordinary powers. In his first New York City appearance he played the modern composer Aaron Copland’s “ Sonata,” one of the most difficult pieces in the whole modern piano repertoire, from memory. The composer himself was amazed that he could do this. “ Although I composed it myself I can’t memorise it,” said Copland. Richard Fan-ell is to appear in

Carnegie Hall in October, and this is the most signal honour for any instrumentalist in America. Shy and unassuming in demeanour, and with a seriousness that belies his years, he regards this as an incentive for still harder work. He spends six hours daily in practice, his only outside relaxation being a little tennis. Now' on the ascension of a meteoric career that should bring distinction to himself and credit to the land of his birth, Richard Farrell will take with him across the Pacific the best wishes of his countrymen in general. And to these, on his departure, will be added the best wishes of all the residents of Northland.

EX-SERVICE SETTLERS At Thursday’s meeting of the Mangonui Citizens’ Rehab. League, the Chairman, Mr. W. R. Craig, said that new State Houses were being erected, while soldier settlers requiring houses for their farm properties were being forced to wait. He was commenting on the Waipapakauri defence area which was divided into Rehab, holdings by the Lands and Survey Department. Mr. Craig said that two new houses on this area were urgently required,-to enable ex-servicemen to raise rural production. While there was no indication when building could commence, contracts were being arranged for the construction of more state homes in the Kaitaia Borough.