ENG-1952 — Page 206

XIV

THE ARTS

In many countries in recent years interest in music has been increasing. Hong Kong, although it is com- paratively inaccessible, has kept in step with this trend. Visits by musicians of note have not been frequent, but those who have come have excited enthusiasm, have inspired higher standards of accomplishment, and given a new depth and breadth to musical appreciation. Thus Germaine Mounier played a wide range of piano pieces with much distinction, Helen Traubel left a deep impression on those who were privileged to listen to her singing, while Alfredo Campoli, the violinist, both by the brilliance of his playing and by his charm of manner on the platform, left his audiences with happy memories of his visit.

Musical circles discussed the question of a sym- phony orchestra for the Colony and thought that the time had arrived to have at least a nucleus of profes- sional musicians whose first obligation would be to the orchestra. This proposal was far from being a criticism of the Sino-British Orchestra which has set a very high standard, particularly as it faced the difficulty of arrang- ing rehearsals for players whose services were voluntary, and leave and transfer from the Colony made it impossible to retain the same personnel for any length of time. The Hong Kong Orchestra, which is faced with similar difficulties, pleased its audiences with regular programmes of light classical music.

Dr. Thornton Lofthouse spent three weeks in Hong Kong as Examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. In addition to the exacting work of examining, he found time to give several

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