Evening star., 1947-12-28
Young Talent Will Survive
Rash Criticism, DR.. Kinder Says
By Hons Kinder
tor. hotionoI Symphony Orchestra

NdSu Alltl(1Slll
By Han
Conductor, Notono
The concert tour of Miss Mar
garet Truman has brought this
young lady, among other things, a
large number of. newspaper notices
notices which I understand were
so completely contradictory as to
make one wonder - If wondering
would do any good.
Yet it is possible. An analysis OF
this phenomenon may be OF use
not only to the young artist In ques-
ton but to other young aspirants
on the uneasy path towards Par
nassus. I understand that Mr.. Noel
Strauss of the New York Times, a
critic of excellent and long-standing
repute, gave Miss Truman after her
initial appearance in Detroit no
tice which was wholly laudatory and
which, appearing as it did in this
important and widely read metro
politan newspaper, might well have
delighted and encouraged any young
artist on the threshold of concert
career-not to speak Of his or her
manager, who is occupied with what
is pleasantly known as selling the
artist
Other critics were less compli-
nlentary, their comments ranging
from, shall we say ito remain for a
moment in this commercial atmos-
phere) IS per cent down to below
par" Some told the young singer
that she had talent but had much to
learn (Which true artist hasn't and
doesn't?), quite a large number that
she had the wrong vocal method
(where have I heard that beforeO
and still others that she should en-.
tertain little hope for career-ol
so I was told. They all agreed thai
she had charming personality,
considerable asset to any artist ap'
pearing in public, and that she was
a very nice girl.
Some Personal Reflections.
Were it not that hers is the iden-
tical case of the large majority
of young "debuting" artists, we
might end the matter right here
with a: so what?" and allow 1t to
work itself out without further COM
ment., But just because the in
stance is so typical and so contra
dictory, it may we'll be worth while
to go little more deeply into the
matter. The result may at best
save some talented youngster from
possible despair, and at worst let
other lesser talents see the light
and stop right there, thus diminish
ing a crowded field, and giving the
remaining ones better chance.
In order to probe the matter thor
oughly, may l be allowed for a
moment to look at it from the angle
I know best. namely, my own?
For many years I have not fell
compelled to read newspaper criti'
cisms. Not that I have avoided
them. I just don't happen to reae
many newspapers. If I run across
newspaper notice and have time
1 read it. But at 54, time become
a precious commodity, and ont
should not be unduly wasteful witt
it. 1t is different when you ar
20. Then you are elated by prais'
and depressed by censure. But 1
does not take long, If one has tn
luck to have what is known as g:
career" to see the futility of carint
deeply about other peoples judg
ments, no matter how we'll intended
they may be.
The Artist as His Own Critic.
During career Of well nigh 3
years, which by row has amounted
to thousands of appearances all owe
the g!cSe-as a cello recitallst AM
later rs an orchestral conductor,
have received criticisms of all kind
bad, indifferent, good and super
lative. In the aggregate, I an
happy to say the latter varietie
predominated. and have been ant
am duly grateful for this. However
/ 1 can say in truth that after
certain time neither praise no
censure can affect an artist. VIII,
this is so is obvious.
First of all, any artist worth,
of the name is and must and vii
remain his own severest critic, mucl
more so than is often believed.
will give conspicuous example O
this later on.
/ Secondly, l have time and again
had the experience that a certain
critic would write what is currentl,
known as a rave" notice, and aeCu
The same performance anothe
would cllide. while third nigh
condemn. Worse even-often the,
would go into detailed particulars
one praising tempt, dynamics, ant
style, while another would tell IN
my tempo was either too fast O
too slow, my dynamics too loud
or too soft, my style too individual
or the opposite, whatever that nigh
be. How is one to know?
Contradictions Cancel Out.
There was time when I sincerel
wished to benefit by well-mean
censure. But contradictory opinion;
as described above, made it Difficult
indeed, and eventually futile an
impossible. Given the necessar
ia nj. true artist Will natural
use is talent to the very best o
.a;@ p a'3ility.
. p cnt consists of many factors
High among the list stand imagina
tion, temperament, mental an
physical ability and alertness, feel
ing, sensitivity. control. Then ther
are taste. culture, intelligence. ant
the ability at q given moment Il
communicate ones interpretive con