A NEW ZEALAND SINGER

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1974, 3 February 1914, Page 4

A NEW ZEALAND SINGER

MR. FRANK FOSTER'S SUCCESS. It is pleating to loim of the l-uccesH of a Now Ifaalander in artistic circles in tlio Old Country. It is a caso of many are called and few aro chceni, ' v with respect to the success of colonials ■ on thp vocal stage, but Mr. Frank Foster, formerly a commercial travolloi, and well known throughout Now Zealand, appears to haw struck his vcca- ' tion on tlio operatic itngo. Writing to it Wellington friend under data Deceinbor 14j Mr. Foster.states that ho had tho honour of being accompanied by Sir Henry Woods's orchestra at one of the Queen's Hall promenade concerts in September. "This," says Mr. Foster, "was my first really big London concert engagement, and lam euro you - will bo interested to know how a young singer fresh from New Zealand feels on ' ( siieh an occasion. I havo never been . troubled with shaky nerves, and can truthfully say that I nas not on that occasion. Sir Henry had chosen s'Sound fin Alarm,' and the preceding symphony was played by Mr. KiddcM on tlio organ, 1 had sung at tho Queen's Hall before- at a eociety concert, and was very well received, but tho promonaders are real musical enthusiasts. By the "way, to 'promenade , is to stand , wedged in like a sardine on tho floor of tho hall. This privilege eosfjs a- eliilliiiß, and the music is always a raro shilling's worth. About' tho comfort provided 1 am doubtful, bub tlio musical public go night after night, some of them with season tickets, which nro transferable. And how do they show their appreciation ? I had to como back and bow four times beforo they would cease. What I valued most was a quiet word of appreciation from Sir Henry • in Tho, A concoftni-ivna/hrid during ttlio-lirst wcel> . . .of my engagement with' tho Carl Hosa. s • Opora. Companyj nnd I got a night off,, for tho occasion., In that company our ', complement of,tenors-is three. Most of the leads are played (urn about by tho • two leading tenors, but all three of us sing 'Faust,' 'Tannhauser, , and 'Lo- |# . hengnn' aro always done by Win. Wez- • -.' ener, a German-American, who has a lot in Germany, and is a very fin© esj ponont of Wajjnorian roles. Hedmondt, another German production, left last season to proceed to Australia as producer for Quinlan. Ho was "0 years: with Carl Hosa and always sung Don Caesar in 'Maritana. , That has now' become my role, and 1 am also doing Wilhelm in 'Mignoii.' You know, of • course", that I am taking three roles during tho Grand Opera Syndicate's Covent Garden winter season, when 'Parsifal , and 'Joseph' aro to bo produced for tho first time in England. 'Tho Meisterpingers,' 'Tristan and Isolde,' and 'Dio Walkuro' are alto to Ira produced. 1 have parts in tho threo first-named, for which I havo Melba to thank. She happened to hear mo eing aurl was evidently pleased, and knowing that I came from her part of tho wo.rld sho asked Mr. Percy Pitt, tho musical director at Covont Garden, to hear mo.

Ho did so, nnd the result was a contract. 1 linvo certainly been lucky, for I might have waited for years for a, chance to be heard by the. Covent Garden authorities, for thoro are so ruany good singers in London. Madarao Melba lins boon very good to mo, and 1 would ■ like New Zealandors to know it? .