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Show Abravanel: Symphony Crisis Nears ; By Nick Snow Staff Writer Utah is rapidly approaching the point where its symphony orchestra or-chestra will have to convert itself it-self from a part-time to a full-time full-time organization, according to Maestro Maurice Abravanel. "Sure, it would be marvelous if we could go on as we presently are," he told students Tuesday in the Music Hall, "but this can not be. I believe that we are rapidly approaching the moment of truth in Utah when we must decide whether Utahns love their symphony as much as they say." Need More Than Idealism "I would have the answer to this question," he continued, "if the city's prominent citizens would follow through on their speeches and idealistic promises with their pocketbooks." Until now, the Utah Symphony Orchestra Orches-tra has been utilizing musicians who held down other jobs during the daytime, making it necessary neces-sary for rehearsals to be held at night. "All good symphony orchestras orches-tras practice two and a half hours daily and we are no exception," ex-ception," he said. The orchestra orches-tra rehearses nightly from 6 to 8:30. Lack of Interest Abravanel expressed some disgust dis-gust over the lack of sincere interest in-terest in classical music in Salt Lake. "Utah's higher institutions of learning spend $400,000 each year on athletic events," he said, "but to many Utahns, good music mu-sic is too expensive." The musician's dedication to his work is unparalleled in any other work, he said. "Absences in organizations with 82 members mem-bers go as high as 10 or 12. The reason they're so low for a symphony sym-phony orchestra is because each member, down to the lowest woodwind or percussion player, is vital to the orchestra's success." suc-cess." Only One Absentee Abravanel indicated one season sea-son where there was only one I absentee during the sympk: 16 concerts. "This was at ist who was very sick audi- t dizzy, but who insisted on l i ing that night anyway andk I had to leave the stage." ( "Musicians are forever sec ; ing for ways to commimicati i music moods and feelings e clearly," he said. "I never lieve I fully know a piece music until it's deep in aD c j bones of my body." t Did Not Measure Up t The Utah Symphony Ore tra, during its European ti: : in September, was repeals J told of its power to comm ( musically. "While our orcte: did not, according to therein ( ers, measure up to tie K( York Philharmonic and K delphia Orchestras technic; ( it did have great powers of c munication that they (ft- , said Dr. Louis Booth, alsopfi , ent at the meeting. The Maestro's talk amf ed many expressive qualities: music. "It communicates;' you can't say in words," he si "There is something in i the dynamics and expression that elicits a response from & of us. It would receive that' sponse even if we had note-or note-or souls." |
