The Boy Soprano.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 87, 6 October 1894, Page 4

The Boy Soprano.

Master Cyril Tyler, the boy vocal- ! ist, is delighting Melbourne audi- / ences by the richness ot his vo'ce, which is of soprano rather than treble quality. Young Tyler was born in Naples fourteen years ago, his parents who are Americans, having gene there to study music under the great Italian masters. At the age of three he showed an extraordinary aptitude for music, and he would go about the house correctly humming the airs his mother sang ; and at the age ol four he could sing the famous 'Casta Diva' from 'Norma.' Although naturally astonished at hiaptitude, his parents did not think of a public career for him until, at the age of nine, some friends at Detroit who had heard him sing induced the organist of the leading church there to offer him an engagement, which his parents accepted. He was engaged to sing a solo every Sunday at a salary of £200 per annum, and he held that position for two years. At the end oi tbat engagement Mr Edgar Stracosch offered his parents advantngeous terms for a tour through the States. One hundred and eighty concerts were given, and the tour was a great financial success. At the conclusion of this tour he accepted an engagement from Colonel Mapleson to appear at the Co vent Garden, London, and his success in England was remarkable. It was whilo Tyler was singing at the promenade concerts, Covent Garden, under the direction of Mr Farley ftenkins last season that Mr W. H. Poole heard him, and at once offered Him an engagement to tour the Australian Colonies. — Dunedin Star correspondent.