Why audiences stayed away

YOUR correspondent Cliff Heyes may well wonder where Bolton's music-lovers were while Leland Chen was playing at the Albert Hall. They were probably where they were for the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and Mastersingers concerts on the 8th. and 9th and the Wingates Brass Band concert on the 20th -- at home unaware that these splendid musicians were in town. The Mastersingers, a truly wonderful ensemble, were greeted by an audience of 72. One wonders what the total attendances amounted to for the entire Festival. Maybe 3000? What is lacking is some thorough professionalism in ensuring public awareness of these events, followed by some serious planning of ticket sales. There can be no criticism of those responsible for attracting such an array of talent to the town, but the sales promotion has been pathetically feeble. Apart from the BEN features (great, well done the BEN) and streamers on the town hall square plus a small leaflet, there was scarcely any publicity to be seen. The concert on the 20th at the Victoria Hall, when because of illness Amanda Roocroft unfortunately could not appear, went ahead due to the generosity of the Wingates Brass Band. They were marvellous, and will repeat the concert with Amanda Roocroft in September at no further cost to those who had already bought tickets. If Miss Roocroft had appeared she would have faced a half-empty hall, and as she is one of the most glorious sopranos of the decade it is to be hoped that before September 22 those with the responsibility will apply themselves to ensuring that this further opportunity at least gets the treatment it deserves.