A FAMOUS SINGER

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1926, Page 4

A FAMOUS SINGER

TOTf DAL MONTE IN AUCKLAND

s AUCKLAND, April ”0. s ‘T am very happy to be going hack i to sunny Australia, and I have heard , so much about the beauty of vour New Zealand that 1 want to see all T can of it,” said Signorina Toti dal Monte, on the dock of the Niagara in Auckland harbour this morning. The famous although youthful operatic soprano did her best to give expression to the feelings of gratitude which, she had towards the Australian audiences who received her so warmly last year when she sang with such success in the Melba grand opera company. When she was last i* Australia her command of the English language amounted to about ten words, hut by dint of hard study and the conversational efforts of her friends, she has made considerable progress. The signorina would lve the last to claim that she has yet mastered the subject, but her conversation is charmingly accurate and her words well chosen. She now sings a number of songs in English. No one had the temerity to ask the signorina her' ago, but it is fairly safe to say that she lias some years to go before she passes out of the twenties, and she has vivacity and an unspoiled outlook that are distinctly youthful. 1 It is not often that noted singers find time to come so Far away front the j musical capitals of the world until they . are at least twice her age, but her successes at Covent Garden and in- the , United States have not weakened Signorina dal Monte's longing to again visit the countries under the _

Southern Cross, and she is now on her way to Australia to give a series of concerts, to ho followed by a tour of New Zealand.

The Signorina chatted gaily about her tours in the Northern Hemisphere, and was especially proud of her debut at Covcnt Garden la-st June, and her reception at the Albert Hall, while her twenty-two concerts in the United States last winter were recalled with evident joy.

Signorina dal Alonto is travelling under the chnpcronage of Airs J. J .Keenan, of Sydney, an aunt of Mr Laurie Kennedy, the celloist, and Aliss Dorothy Kennedy, the pianist. Aliss Dorothy Kennedy was the Signoriua’s accompanist in England and the United States, and although it was intended that she should make the visit to Australia, she was unable to go at the hits moment.