A WRONG IMPRESSION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16993, 26 March 1926, Page 8

A WRONG IMPRESSION.

MUSIC IN DOMINION

DAME CLAIIA BUTTS CRITICISM

WHY DID SHE NOT SPEAK IN N.Z

(Special to the Herald.) AUCKLAND, this day

Naturally musical people are much incensed at the reported criticisms uttered by Dame Clara Butt in Sydney concerning matters musical in New Zealand, and people who are not particularly musical, hut like to hear good music, are asking “What has Madame done to improve things?” and both musical and unmusical people want to know why Madame did not sav something _ before slm left New Zealand, and not wait until she got 1200 miles away. When seen this morning, Mr. Colin Muston. conductor ol the Bohemian Orchestra and Choral Society, was quite at a loss to accounl for .Madame's comnierd, and for her method, of making it. What she had said was hound to give the people of Australia quite a wrong impression concerning New Zealand. If slid had any useful criticism to offer concerning New Zealand it would have been in much better taste and much more useful if she had made her remarks in New Zealand.

“It is very hard to account for what she said.” remarked Mr. Muston. “hut it may have been she had the had lur ■: to hear a few had singers here, and that, she has summed up the standard of New Zealand by what she has heard. In my opinion she is in no position to judge the standard of New Zealand music, because she was so busy during her tour that she would not have an opportunity of hearing anything like, the best, talent in the Dominion, neither vocal nor instrumental. A great deal of excellent work is being done in New Zealand, and m> one with full knowledge could mal e such a statement as that attributed to Madame in Sydney. It should he point■ed out, moreover, that singing is only one part ol music. ; IN BETTER, TASTE. 1 “Many people think that it would have been in hotter taste if Dame Clara Butt, when she was approached here, had given her opinion of New Zealand music in a diplomatic manner. She avoided the question and waited until she got to Sydney, where, she made remarks that lowered New Zealand talent in the eyes of the Australian people; remarks that could have been replied to in New Zealand, but are very hard to overtake when I made so far away.”

I It was suggested to Mr. Muston that some of Dame Clara Butt’s concerts in , New Zealand were not so well attended ins the size of tho halls permitted, and ‘ his reply to that was that “You cannoi blame the public not attending in greater numbers if tbe artists will not. put in the best of songs, but are content lo ( furnish poor programmes which contain the same items' visit after visit.”