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Salient: An organ of student opinion at Victoria University, Wellington. Vol. 23, No. 5. Wednesday, June 15, 1960

Role of Conductor

Role of Conductor

In addition to his pianistic achievements, Katchen has somehow found time to try his hand at yet another facet of musical activity, again with notable success. On November 22—22 years to the day after his New York Carnegie Hall debut as a child prodigy pianist—Katchen made his initial appearance in the role of conductor, leading Paris' noted Pasdeloup Orchestra in an all-Beet-the audience's part. However, without falling info inconsistency haven programme. Once more he received a vote of confidence; the crowd at the Palais de Chaillot clamoured for more, and the verdict, in the words of France-Soir, was: "Katchen is a man who has something to say. As a conductor as well as a pianist he imposes a true personality. The orchestra followed the conductor with a fire that one wished one would always hear!"

Katchen is perhaps best known as a concerto pianist with orchestra—he has a repertoire of 32 piano concertos. However, one of his great loves (beautiful French Wife Arlette, and Japanese Netsukitiny, grotesque, carved ivory figures being two others)—is ensemble playing with other instrumentalists.

This year's newspaper reports should be consistent with the remarkably complimentary ones of 1955 and 1957. Although in some musical quarters there was doubt as to the quality of Katchen's musicianship in 1957, the all Beethoven programme should conclusively show his greatness in 1960. The German critics, who filled the first four rows at his Berlin debut concert, being unanimous, no doubt gave the correct verdict.