Strong Criticism of Public Apathy to British Composers

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26777, 21 May 1948, Page 5

Strong Criticism of Public Apathy to British Composers

N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent Rec. 9 p.m. LONDON. May 20. Sir Thomas Beecham (has cancelled the all-British musical concert which was to have been held to-morrow in the Albert Hall because insufficient tickets were sold. Ticket holders will have their money refunded. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Sir Thomas, was to have played works by four leading British composers—Delius, Bax, Bantock, and Elgar. “ The British public just does not want to listen to music by its own composers,’.’ said Sir Thomas. “ I shall now make records of this British music and sell them to the Americans. They appreciate it. The supposed boom in good music during the war was brought about by the Americans, nol by the British. The Americans came over here in their thousands and always liked to listen to good British music." A few hours after he announced the cancellation of the Albert Hall concert, Sir Thomas spoke at Bristol University about Britain and music. “ Half the great opera houses in Italy are run by the municipalities.” he said. “The same applies to France and did also apply to Germany. In the United States, instead of a city council, a group of private persons in every great town constitutes itself as the unofficial council ’ and runs the opera house and orchestra. Here in Britain we are without such backing and such lively interest on the part of our rulers great and small. It should not be. We must awaken such philistines and vandals, and do it quickly.

■ Tn London there is not one single building in which I or any other conductor can play music with propriety and effect.” Sir Thomas said. “ There is the Albert Hall left—and no has

ever been able to explain to me why the Albert Hall was built. It can be used for a hundred purposes, but not for music. And yet no one in the socalled governing class takes the slightest interest in whether London has a decent concert hall or not.”