PM Transcripts

EMBARGO: 6. OOPM WEDNESDAY 24 OCTOBER 1973
AS TH A A
PRIME MINISTER 1
Press Statement No. 142
24 October 1973
BEGINNING OF NATIONAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT COLLECTION
The Prime Minister announced today that he had
approved the purchase of two 18th-century cellos made
by the Italian master, Giuseppe Guarmeri~ in 1710 and 1721.
The cellos and bows have been purchased in New York
for a total price of $ 54,950. They will be the foundation
of a national collection of great instruments. Their
purchase was recommended by the Music Board of the
Australian Council for the Arts.
The Chairman of the Music Board, Australian composer,
Don Banks, in recommending the purchase, said that the cellos
were two of the world's finest instruments, and would be a
tremendous asset to the musical life of Australia.
They would be available to Australia's leading
cellists and to vis iting performers giving concerts in
Australia. He said there were cases overseas where instruments
of similar quality were used as inducements to attract fine
performers to work in certain cities or to be retained in
leading positions in orchestras and chamber music groups.
He said that such instruments were becoming
increasingly rare and the price paid was a very fair one.
In a few years it would inevitably have gone up considerably
as competition for these instruments is constantly increasing.
Giuseppe Guarneri, one of a famous family of instrument
makers, was the father of the celebrated Giuseppe Guarneri del
Gesu, who made many famous violins, but no cellos.
CANBERRA. A. C. T.
EMBARGO: