TAUBER'S DEATH BRINGS WORLD-WIDE REGRET

Chronicle (Levin), 10 January 1948, Page 7

TAUBER'S DEATH BRINGS WORLD-WIDE REGRET

■ • v The loss of liichard Tauhei' will be felt by peojde of many nations th rough1 jut the world for he sang, wliether through tlie medium of lilms, records, radio or 011 the stage, for the eivjoyment if the many, not for the_ cultured few. The introduction of his voice to New Zealand occurred nearly 20 years ago when a recording of his singing of ."Good Bye " from "The White Horse tnn" made instant appeal to the public who were given tlie iirst taste of his famous pianissimo with which he ended this song. The popularitv of this new singing personality swept through the eountry and from then 011 his records have been best-sellers, the lilms in wliich he appeared well patronised, and more than oue will bless the inventor of gramophone records which will retain for all time the voice of this- true artist. Born in Linz, Austria, in 1S92, liichard Tauber, whose real name was Frnst HeifL'ert, was gi v en the full benelit of having artist parents. His mother was an opera singer and his father a wcdl-knowu aetor. The music apparent iu him at au early age was fqstered aud ke started couducting at nine years of age. His lvric tenOr voice, howevcr, was not considered good enougli for eoncert w-ork until. he was out of his 'teens and then he made his debut at the theatre of which his father was diree'tor. His fame as a singer of songs by Mozart and Scliubert spread over Europe and accordmg to some critics, his interpretation of the former has yet to be beaten. I11 1933 he went to England where he lived for the rest of his lil'e, except for tours to Ameriea. and the Oontinent. I11 1936 he married Diana Napier, the British actress, and they settled in Elstree where he in dulged in his favourite hobby, amateur photography and the, movie caniera.