SUCCESS IN ENGLAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1061, 27 August 1930, Page 7

SUCCESS IN ENGLAND

STELLA MURRAY RETURNS TO TOUR DOMINION PRESENTED AT COURT The call to see New Zealand again was so strong that Miss Stella Murray, formerly of Christchurch, cancelled several important engagements in England and sailed by the lonic. She reached Auckland yesterday afternoon and will leave shortly for Christchurch to stay with her relatives before beginning a concert tour of the Dominion. Miss Murray, who left New Zealand several years ago, has now established herself in London. Her rich contralto voice has gained high praise from the critics and her engagements to sing in oratorio keep her constantly moving through the English provinces. The story of her success is just another of hard work and still more hard work. As a girl in Christchurch Miss Murray’s voice was recognised as one of outstanding promise. She continued with her studies there and then left for Paris and London, there to study under Ann Williams and Sir Henry Wood. Miss Murray has been fortunate in the great friendship of Dame Nellie Melba, who has always encouraged the New Zealander in her struggle for recognition. Even though that recognition has come Miss Murray is not content to rest on her laurels. She continues to practise, for only by constant practice, she says, can the beauty and maturity of a voice be maintained.

Just before leaving London Miss Murray gave a most successful recital at the Aeolian Hall, which was attended by all the prominent critics and singers of the daj r .

She also sang with Melba at a big charity concert, one of the social events of Loudon.

Miss Murray was presented at the second Court this year. The jewels, she said, were marvellous. Most of the women wore - frocks of pale colours. These were very beautiful, but in contrast with the brilliance of the men’s uniforms they were almost drab. The Queen was a magnificent figure in an exquisite frock of silver and blue.

New Zealanders are gradually but surely taking their rightful place in the artistic world of London. Miss Murray lives in a mews next door to Shayle Gardner, the actor, who has done exceptionally well both in the United States and in London. Vera Moore, the Dunedin pianist, is making good progress. Esther Fisher is also well in the public eye. The recent grand opera season in London was not a great success, chiefly because of the lack of stars. There were one or two voices which were marvellous, but the other singers were not of outstanding merit. Miss Murray will return to London in January to fulfil her engagements there.