i .
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‘Books for adults

by Andrea Deakin

The Other Side of the Moon

David Niven’s two biographies sketched a portrait
that was light-hearted and debonair. It seemed im-
possible that real trouble had ever clouded his brow.

Sheridan Moriey in The Other Side of the Moon
(Methuem:22.95) shows the dark side of a life that
might be considered as much tragedy as comedy.

His father died in World War I — he barely knew
him, His step-father loathed him and sent him away
Jrom early years to prep school where, in an obvious
attempt to be noticed, he played the proverbial
naughty schoolboy.

He joined the army, but soon became disillusioned
with the routine of the peacetime forces, took aff for
the U.S. and wormed his way into the British colony
in Hollywood.

The Niven of this period is not particularly attrac-
tive, his ability to charm mitigating the desire to use
anyone’s good graces to get on. Richard Greene says,
‘T remember an ambitious, calculating and very
sober man who, for some reason, wanted to appear
to be a cavalier drinker.”’

Yet there were extenuating circumstances. Few
people had looked out for David when he was young
— he had learned that he had to make his own way.

He returned to Britain when World War I broke
out, and his experiences there, plus his marriage to
Primula (Primmie), were to deepen and mature him.
But his blissfully happy marriage ended abruptly
when Primmie was accidentally killed in a fall at the
home of Tyrone Power.

His second marriage, to Hjordis a Swedish model,
was a far more erratic affair. All this time he was
Sighting and angling for paris, perpetually short of
money, yet every now and then a fiim would come
along which would give him the opportunity to show
what he could accomplish.

He won an Oscar for Separate Tables.

His biographer, Robert Morley’s son, Sheridan

Morley, has drawn on the memories of a wide range .

of David Niven’s friends in film, and on the stage.

He had a wide range of friends, for despite his
idiosyncracies he had a warmth, gaiety and courage,
as well as a thoughtfulness. and courtesy, which
endeared him to those with whom he worked. They
forgave him, Certainly he faced his terrible death
with great courage, winning the admiration of all
who dealt with him.

Sheridan Morley has written a fascinating portrait
of the man. He quotes Richard Haysin’s perceptive
remark, “In fact he was often a very touching and
moving and effective actor, but he had this crippling
sense of his own inadequacy.’’

by Michael Kelly -
_ TERRACE — Anton
- Kuerti’s recent ap-

pearance at the REM Lee
Theatre leaves one with
mixed emotions of the
highest order: gratitude
for the privilege of hear-
ing first-hand one of the
great musicians of our
time; astonishment at the
balance of technical ac-
complishment and ele-
mentary humanness in
his playing; and despair
at the prospect of having
to wait perhaps several
years for a_ return
engagement. |

Kuerti’s selection of
program material cannot
be described as obscure
works; however, the
pieces would not fall into
any category of well-
known standards in the
common concert reper-
toire either. During .an
interview the afternoon
prior to his performance
here, when asked if he
adjusts his programs for
the remote northern au-
diences he frequently
plays for, Kuerti replied,
*‘Maybe 1 should, but I
don’t.”’ This is a man
who does not ‘play
down’”’ to any audience,
but states, ‘Shere | am,
this is what I can do."
He is a performer who
comes forward with in-
tent. apart from accep-
tance, complete, con-
trolled, and directed.

Innocence and
innovation

The concert opened
with the Beethoven op.
78, Sonata no. 24 in F.
Kuerti’s treatment of the
piece emphasized the
qualities of innocence
and innovation which
Beethoven often express-
ed through works in that
key. The deceptive
naivete of the adagio
gave into a surprising

ous conclusion of stack-
ed variations in the two
allegro movements
which followed. Kuerti’s
discourse of the piece
projected both care and
a sort of happy abandon,
with no pauses between
movements.

The Schumann op.-11
Grand Sonata in F
Minor was certainly the
high dramatic point of
the program. Kuerti
demonstrated a com-
prehensive understand-
ing of the emotional and
intellectual foundation
of this complex and dif-
ficult sonata, striking a
fine balance between the
tendancy toward roman-
tic dissolution and the
formal structuring which
halds the music together.
His playing went to the
very core of Schumann’s
intent and stunned the
audience with a wizardry
of technical accomplish-
ment.

Tonal
exploration

The second half of the
concert opened with the
Eight Pieces, op. 76, by
Brahms. This set is
charactérized by a feel-
ing of quiet tonal ex-
ploration, and Kuerti’s
approach to it was one of

thoughtful introspection.

Kuerti has made the
‘‘Wanderer’’ Fantasy in
C of Franz Schubert into
something of a personal
trademark, and it is dif-
ficult to imagine a more
stirring conclusion to
any performance. From
the simple opening state-

ment onward the music.

seemed to emerge direct

| | Terrace Review — Wednesday, Feb. 12, 1986 15
Anton Kuerti:
total mastery

cascades of progressively
dazzling variations. The
fugato passages leading
into the conclusion
whirled and glittered
around the theatre like a
spinning prayer-wheel
struck by lightning,
seeming to come from all
directions at once. The
finale, a formidable
cadenza-like figure rac-
ing out of a restatement
of the original theme in

the bass, was taken by -

Kuerti at a speed which
in lesser hands would
have caused the music to
disintegrate by sheer
force of acceleration.

Musician
appreciated

Applause and cheering
were prolonged and en-
thusiastic,

In an interview Kuerti
stated, ‘‘The human ele-
ment is the essential ele-
ment in art.’ One can-
not help but be grateful

\)

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that, in view of this
philosophy, Kuerti has
not chosen the path
taken by that other great
Canadian pianist, Glenn
Gould, who became a
virtual recluse for the
last two decades of his
life. Gould chose the
path of remote technol-
ogy to confer his art,
claiming that he could
reach an infinitely larger
audience through record-
ings as Opposed to con-
cert appearances.

Music, however, is
something more than
recordings and video
tapes, sounds and im-
ages. It is an event, the
total experience of the
performance, a witness-
ing of the momentous,
the extraordinary — the
human. It is Anton
Kuerti’s essential ele-
ment.

Fire

A propane tank
caught fire on top of a
van on Friday, Feb. 7
reported Terrace fire
chief Clifford Best. The
tank was leaking and ig-
nited a canoe trans-
ported on the van,

3612¢

District
of
Terrace

Over 200 participate
in Northern Games

by Sherry Halfyard

Flip Cervo, acting
secretary for the Games
and regional director for
Terrace, commended the
Terrace community for
supporting the Northern

B.C. Winter Games
(NBCWG).
There was approx-

imately 1500 to 2000
athletes competing in
this year’s NBCWG Feb.
7 to 10, Cervo said that
Terrace had 22! athletes
participating in this

year’s games.

A “Symbolic run’’
took place Saturday Jan.
18 with runners starting
from Kitimat, the site of
last year’s NBCWG, to
Smithers, this year’s host
of the games.

Athletes from Kitimat,
Terrace, Hazelton and
Smithers took part in the
run. Val Philpot and
Lorraine Phillips
represented Terrace in

‘the run, Cervo said.

Guide/Scout Week

and sometimes humor- and_ startling through

TERRACE — A Girl Guide is a member of a world
wide sisterhood of adventure, service and fun.

She explores 108 countries of the World Associa-
tion of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts through learning
and sharing.

By donating funds to dig wells in Bourkina Faso in
Central Africa, providing camping equipment for the
Dominican Republic or having a pen friend in Japan,
she reaches out to a wide world,

Be a part of a positive aim and celebrate
Guide/Scout Week Feb. 16 - 23,

Behind the eight ball ? Here’s your cue;

Where it’s at...

ft (i

Entertainment

Terrace’s
night life —
the “who
where and
when” for
entertainment.

Northern at George’s Pub
Motor ___Lost Highway
Inn designed to please 8 crowd.
This week’s Saturday Jam
feature: Bring an inatrument!

Relax at the Thornhill
Neighborhood Pub

Cosy fireplace and Atmosphere
Entertainment Thursday, Friday
and Saturday — 8 p.m. to 12 mid. Melgtbourksod Pub
night . ?
"ff you drive your husband to drink...
drive him here!"

Want Ads will work for you.

Applications are invited for the
position of:

Director of
Public Works

District of Terrace

Under the direction of the Municipal Engineer, the
incumbent will be a membér of tha management
team, rasponsibte for staff supervision and the affi-
clent operation of the Public Works Department,
providing rellable performance in all management,
administration and engineering functions, ensuring
all work is carried out in accordance with recogniz-
ed practices and established municipal and safety
pollcies. The Director will serve as the Acting
Municipal Engineer during the absence of the
Municipal! Engineer. t

University graduation In a related discipline is
preferred, plus extensive experience in the manage-
ment, co-ordination and administration of a
Municipal Public Works Department. Must have a
sound knowledge of the mathods, materials, toots
.and equipment used in the construction,

maintenance, repair and servicing of the Public
Works projects, including familiarity with computer
applications related to water, sanitary and storm
sewer network systems. Good health, excellent.
inter-personal and communication skills, and a
valid driver's licence are essential.

Salary range $42,000 to $45,000 — open to negotla-
tlon — and a liberal fringe benefit programme are
offared. Please send written applications, including
rasume and references, postmarked not later than
Friday, February 21, 1986 to:

E.R. Hallsor,
Clerk-Administrator,
District of Terrace
#5-3215 Eby Street,
Terrace, B.C.
VBG 2X8 O7c