A GREAT BARITONE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8130, 3 May 1906, Page 5

A GREAT BARITONE.

MK ANDREW BLACK. The announcement that Mr Andrew Black, the great baritouo, is to appear at the Mastertou Town Hall, on Friday, 11th May, should create very muoh enthusiasm among music lovers because this famous artist is probably the finest baritone at present appearing before the public in Great Britain. Mr Andrew Black is tourin s Australia and New Zealand under the direction of Messrs J. and N. Tait. This issufficient guarantee that the concerts will be of a high class, and, at the same time, of a popular character. For soma yeara past Mr Black ha& oooupied the position which Sautloy so long ocouoied in England and elsewhere, namely, the leading baritone at all the great Musical Festivals in England, Scotland, and Irelaud. Mr Black is a native of Glasgow, and bis career as a oonowrt singer was brought about quit# suddenly about eighteen years ago, Foli, the well-known basso, was engaged to sing in the "Elijah," at St. Andrew's Hall, Glasgow, but, at the last minute, disappointed the audience. Mr Black at that time was an organist, but had °ung as an amateur on different occasions. We waa called upon to fill the I breach, and even then he created a very great sensation, although he bad not up to then had very muoh vocal training. He made such a sreat success that he seriously turned his thoughts to singing. He obtained the best teaching be could in England, and subsequently spent two or three years in Italy, after which he returned to tngland and immediately met with most pronounced success. And, as before stated, he is reeogniced as the great baritone of the day. In Oratorio, his rendering of the baritone part of the "Elijah" is recognised everywhere as the finest interpretation of that important part. Mr Black is probably as much sought after for engagements as any artise in England at the present day. He seems to be singing nere, there, and everywhere, and it is only on account of circumstances that be has been prevailed upon to visit Australia at the present juncture. Quite recently Mr Blaok suffered a bereavement, and his medical advisor strongly recommended him to take along sea voyage and having often expressed a wish to visit this part of the world he decided to come out here. The famous, baritone is m his forty-sixth year, consequently we have on opportunity of hearing him at the very ' zenith- of bis powers. Hfs most recent appearances in Melbourne, and other Australian cities, has provoked quite exceptional enthusiasm, and the press notices of his concerts are most enthusiastic, and his critics are of opinion that no finer artist has ever visited this part of the world. The public of New Zealand may therefore look forward to hearing this great artist with great pleasure. He is being supported by Miss Ethel Sinclair, a violinist, who has also met with much success during the concert season with Mr Black. She is a native of Victoria, and when quite a girl won the Clarke Soholarhip, which entitles the winner to several years tuition in England. Such great promise did she show that the Controllers of . the Scholarship extended the period for an extra year. In addition, Mr Adolphe Borsohke is the pianist of the party, lie is a young artist of extraordinary promise, sjj ia, a young Vienaesse, and for some years was the favourite pupil 1 of the great teacher, LesoheMzky, who prediots great things for the young artist. Mr Boisohke also studied under Emil Saeur. His performances in Melbourne have created very great enthusiasm. The Melbourne/Age remarked of one of his performances: "Nothing finer had been heard since the visit of Paderewski." Mr Horace Gieeson will act as accompanist. With such a powerful combination there is every reason to expect that Mr Andrew Black's tour will meet with the hearty appreciation of the musical public. The only concert will take place at the Town Hail, on Friday, 11th May.