A GIFTED TENOR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2275, 8 October 1914, Page 3

A GIFTED TENOR

RETURN OP WALTER KIRBY It is now some years sinco Wellington concert-lovers last had the opportunity of hearing Mr. Walter Kirby, the gifted tenor, sing. To be exact, it was in 1903, when Me toured the Dominion with Madame Melba. In the meantime lie has sung in many countries and before, many distinguished audiences. It is decidedly refreshing to hear of Now Zealaitders who have v.'on iaurels in some of the most.critical cities of the world,'and Mr. Kirby, as most people know, is a New Zealander. and hailed, from Auckland. It was there that he first attracted the notice of the Earl of Aberdeen, who at that time had not succeeded , to the title, and who was delighted with the young boy soprano, at that time ten years of age. Years later he came into contact with tho Earl of Aberdeen, theu Viceroy of Ireland, and received an invitation to sing at Dublin Castle, where ho met for the first time the Earl and Countess of Liverpool, now. in New Zealand. "I am delighted to bo back again in Wellington," said Mr. Kirby to a representative of The Dominion yesterday, "and I shall not forget the kindness I met with in this city when 1 was on tho point of leaving to continue my studies in Europe. Lady Ranfurly, the late Hon. Dr. Grace, and Mrs. Grace, and others interested themselves in getting up a concert, which was held in the old Opera House, and which was packed to the doors. It vat. very good of the people, and I have not forgotten it. Lady ItanfurJy is most kind to the New Zealandors she meets «t Home, and does much to help them if they are struggling to make careers for themselves."

• From Auckland. Mr. Kirby left at the age of ten with his mother for Melbourne, whore he sang until his voice began to break; ho went to college like most boys, and then studied lieder undw 'fcWb&'i 'M.olbouTue teacher, Sißnor Cecci.. Engagements began to follow, and his first.tour was with Mdlle. Dolores irhen ke was at the age of eighteen. Then followed the eug'igeK'cnt with Mtlba, which ;ias already been inentienod, ajid-in which ho scored iruca a success with his sinjing of "Angels Guard Thee." On reaching London flo young singer br-gan to study under Signor RandegEer, nud then under the direction of Melba's maestro, Manual Garcia, ttien a 'wonderful old man of ono hundred and two years of age. Three and a half years' study'followed in Italy, first in Rome under Madame Faiciii, who has placed upon tho operatic stage more tenors than a.ny other teacher in Italy at the present day,'and then some was spent, wider Leopoldo Signorotti, in Milan. It was in Italy that he first come into contact wifh Princess Henry of Pless, a most accomplished musician, who gavo all her time to music, and Miss Muriel Wilson, a wonderful dancer (purely for the love of it), who has studied under Genee and other famous exponents of th« great art. Mr. Kirby also studied, under Franz Emmich in Berlin for eighteen months. "It is absolutely necessary for anyone who wishes to succeed as a ainger to make himself or.herself thoroughly acquainted with languages—French; German,'and Italian, at the least, said Mr. Kifhy Trith «mpha*is. "Without them they have not the slightest hope of / commanding attention at Homo or in turopo. One thing that I could not fail to notice was the way in which, every vacation, teachers left for the Continent, there to study the latest methods of tuition. Too much attention, I might say in passing, for the benefit of students, cannot be given breathing and the placing of words uiitil they become, as the Italians have it, 'solid ~iu, the inout'h.' Consistent success call only come with breathmg arid.the pro- , pe-" use of the nasal cavities." ' . It is as an operatic singer, and singer of ballads that Mr. Kirby is best known,. ond his favourite operas are "Madame Butterfly" and "La Boheme." It was rather interesting to learn that he heard tho initial performance in Rome of Debussy's "Polleas" and."Melisaride," and go little did it delight t/he popular tasto there that missiles wero thrown at the artists from the upper galleries. It's a queer world wo live in 1 Lieder is also very dear to Mr. Kirby'a heart,- as pell as the French chansons, and. to tho very groat delight of his interviewer Mr. Kirby eat himself down at tie oinno nnd .iang a delightful song </ de Fontenailles, and followed it with the balcony song from Charpentier's "Louise." ■ ■ ■ '

Mr. Kirby hns been associated with Sir Henry Wood and the Promenade Concerts in the Queen's Hall, ■ Francis ' jLorbay in the Albert Hall. Sir Frederick- Cowan, and many other notable people in the musical world. He has sung at the same concerts and oa the same programme with Christine Nliilfwlui, Madame Calvo, ' with ' Edward Eeszke, with /Madame Fremstedt (whose Salome was so wonderful), and he had the honour of singing before King Edward at'Cliatsworth; where he staved for some days, and Queen Alexandra. Of the late King's geniality and charm ho :ould not say too much. He has also sung befpro Their Majesties the King and Queen, before Queen Margherita in Koma. who curiously enough prefers songs sung in English, and in fact, he Jias sung before, most of the members of our Royalty, as well as many foreign Royalties, including the Kaiser.. ■■..;. ' . . i

' It was in Melbourne that Mr. Kirby sang a duet with Madame Nordica, tho greatest dramatic artist which the world has had for many .years. It was the last time that she. was ever to sing before an audience, and of her charm, her personality and her wonderful artistry Mr. Kirby could not say too.much. "It was a privilege to have known her" was his summing up of her.

I For the benefit of students Mr. Kirby mentioned the fact that it was impossible to obtain good sound training for anything less than twenty-five shillings a lesson unless' on the Continent. It could not be done in London.