MUSICAL JUDGE UPSET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19156, 23 October 1925, Page 15

MUSICAL JUDGE UPSET.

POOR PIANOFORTE PLAYING. CONTESTANTS CASTIGATED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] HAMILTON. Thursday. If Mr. Bernard Page, of Wellington, was complimentary in his reference to the performances of four little girls who played pianoforte duets at the Hamilton competitions on Tuesday, he was decidedly critical of the efforts of adult competitors in the class, "Piano Test Solo," la-st evening. " Never in my life have I heard such an awful standard of work," said Mr. Pago, in making the awards. Referring to one competitor, Mr. Page said he sauntered out leisurely and played a lovely minuet by Paderewski in a manner that was an insult to the judge, the audience, the society, and the composer himself. His attitude as he 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 he should have been ordered off the stage within 10 seconds. Several other entrants were subjected to similar ruthless criticism. One in particular, tho judge said, appeared to be under tho impression that he was playing in a jazz orchestra. A gold medal had been offered for competition in this class, but the judge said he would not consider awarding it. "If one of these competitors were to don the medal," Mr. Pago remarked, "ho or she would be taken either as a liar or an imposter, while I 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 tho end and gave a fair rendering.