which was of especial interest to Hong Kong with its close links. with Macau.
Serious music.
72. When the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra played at the Macpherson Playground on Sunday 20th May, it was the first time in the history of the Colony that a complete symphony orchestra of international repute had played before a Hong Kong audience.
One of the concerts was for school children and this was broadcast in its entirety. There is a steady and welcome flow of internationally famous artists passing through the Colony, but visits by orchestras such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic are all too rare.
73. The growing interest in western classical music among the younger generation in the Colony was noted in the last report. One may speculate that the emphasis on the piano as an instrument by aspiring musicians in the Colony owes much to the preponderance of pianists among the famous artists who have performed here. Possibly more frequent visits by orchestras would lead to a vogue in bassoons, French horns and double basses!
74. Apart from their performances, the orchestra made another welcome contribution to broadcasting when, in a radio forum arranged jointly by Radio Hong Kong and Rediffusion, the manager, Alice Taylor,
Alice Taylor, the deputy leader, Hermann Weinstein, and the leader of the percussion section, William Kraft, answered questions from the audience on musicians and musicianship.
75. Several visiting celebrities talked about their work while they were here; from Lew Christiansen, Director of the San Francisco Ballet, came back-stage news of the company at work, and Gregor Piatigorsky, cello, and Eugene Istomin, piano, both appeared in 'This Week'.
76. Among other musical talks were a series of four by Anton Faust under the title 'Music in Many Moods', which the speaker illustrated.
Celebrities who gave broadcast recitals included Gregor Piatigorsky, Eugene Istomin, Annarosa Taddei, Dr. Reinhaldt Raffalt, Miklos Gafni, Maurice Clare and Marta Zalan.
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