JOSEPH HISLOP.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19152, 8 November 1927, Page 13

JOSEPH HISLOP.

A BRITISH TENOR. Joseph Hislop, the celebrated British tenor, who will commence his ChrisUhurch season in the Theatre Royal on Tuesday, November 22nd, has won for himself a great position, not only in England and in his native Scotland, but also in Europe. Not only is 110 a wonderful concert artist but be has achieved the greatest Buccess in the leading opera houses in the world. He has appeared at La Scala in "Lucia di Lammermoor" and "Rigoletto." ; at Barcelona in "La Boheme" ; at Stockholm and Oslo in various operas; at the Opera Comique in "Madame Butterfly" and "Manon"; at Brussels in other operas, and, finally, before sailing for Australia, he sang "Cavaradossi" in "La Tosca" at Covent Garden, in which opera house he has also sung "Boheme" with Dame Nellie Melba. Mr Hislop has also sung at the Metropolitan and Chicago Opera Houses in America.

Joseph Hislop's personality is essentially British, quiet and unassuming. When one meets Hislop it is difficult to realise he is a famous artist. He has recoived many foreign honours, and recently he was presented by the King of Sweden with the gold medal inscribed "Literis et Artibus," which is only given to authors, painters, and musicians of the first rank. From the King of Denmark he received the honour of the Knighthood of the Danneborg, an Order which dates from the 13th century, and in May last he was offered the Knighthood of the Vasa by the King of Sweden. In connexion with the latter a strange contretemps arose. The King sent the medal of the Order on the night of Mr Hislop's last concert in Stockholm, and as the King was to be present on this occasion he naturally was obliged to wear it, but he could not officially accept the Knighthood before the matter was referred to the British authorities —a form of etiquette which exists in such matters. Th.e appearance of Joseph Hislop will come as a welcome change, for it will be a great pleasure to hear again some of the famous English and Scottish songs, sung by a really great artist. Mr Hislop will be accompanied by Signor Alberto Sciarrctti, a distinguished Italian pianist, who has recently played in Holland. Signor Sciarretti is well known in London, and has often appeared on the same platform as Mr Hislop.