WINE, WOMEN AND SONG

New Zealand Listener, Volume 6, Issue 153, 29 May 1942, Page 16

WINE, WOMEN AND SONG

But Only One Of The Second, Says Peter Dawson

OU see, Peter Dawson is married, though unfortunately, Mrs. Dawson was not able to accompany her husband to New Zealand on his’ present visit. However, his first words as he stepped off the boat are reported to have been "What time’s my concert? I must send a cable to my wife so that she can listen-in to me." Of course it *may have been merely professional interest on the part of Mrs. Dawson, who before her marriage was Annette George, a well-known London soprano. But it looks like another example of marital devotion, a further proof of the fact that there is a woman behind every famous man. For Peter Dawson is a famous man, though he would be the last person to think of himself that way. "I suppose a lot of people have heard me at one time or another, on a gramophone or over the air,’ he said, "but I’m not the sort of person people. would rush up to in street with autograph albums. I don’t

: : | think many people would recognise me, Several times when I’ve been introduced to people they’ve said ‘Not the Peter Dawson?’ And when I've said yes, they’ve thought I was trying to pull their legs. Some of them have told me afterwards that I look much bigger on the stage than I actually am, and that’s why they didn’t know me. It’s Nice To Be Noticed "But that’s one of the things I’m enjoying about my trip to New Zealand, I’ve met lots of new people, and re-met a lot of others. Several people have rushed up to me in the street or the hotel and said ‘Peter Dawson! Do you remember, I met you when you were here in 1933.’ And I like that." "I suppose that happens all the time in Sydney?" "Oh, no, we’ve been there three years now, and they’re quite used to me, I might just as well be a piece of the wallpaper, which in general makes for pleasanter living. But it’s nice to be noticed for a change." His Workshop And Garden After the war, Mr, and Mrs, Dawson intend to go back to their home at Edge- ware, in London, for after almost 40 years in England, they have made many friends there. And besides, ‘there’s Mr. Dawson’s workshop. "It’s a wonderful place," said Mr. Dawson. "I’ve got almost everything in the tool line, and I turn out some nice little bits of woodwork. Then there’s the garden. I’m very keen on gardeningin fact I’ve got quite a decent garden at my place in Sydney. We're growing vegetables. The Government says ‘Grow vegetables and help the war effort,’ so we grew vegetables and then they don’t let us water* them. No rain in Sydney, you see; they haven’t had any , for months. So that’s one thing I like about New Zealand; it’s green. Plenty of food for the animals. No: wonder they call it God’s Own Country." "Three hobbies," went on, Mr. Dawson, "woodworking, gardening, and singing’s my hobby as well as my job, and when I’m not singing myself (no, I don’t sing in the bath, but almost everywhere else), I like listening to it. Especially women singers, and I think I prefer sopranos. I was a sweet little boy soprano myself once, you know." And he went on to explain how he had begun his musical career as a treble in the Melbourne Congregational Church Choir. His Favourite Film Stars "I don’t get much chance of going to see films, but when I do, I like to see a good musical film. Grace Moore now, she’s got a marvellous voice, but of course she hasn’t been on the films lately. But I enjoy Jeanette Macdonald and Deanna Durbin, And there’s always Gracie Fields. I knew Gracie quite well in England, and she’s a great girl as well as having a great voice." "What do you think is the best time for a girl to start learning singing?"

"Perhaps about 18, when the voice has more or less reached maturity. There’s a certain amount of risk in beginning too early, although if you have a good teacher, there should be no danger of overstraining the voice. However, it’s fairly safe to start choral singing quite young. Church choirs are excellent training grounds for general musical knowledge. And besides, choir singing is fun, especially if you’ve had to do a lot of solo singing." Four Musical Sisters *Do you think musical ability runs in families, Mr. Dawson?" "J don’t know. It’s funny about our family. There were nine of us altogether, five boys.and four girls. None of my brothers was at all musical, but all my sisters were. One played the violin, one the organ, and two played the piano, It was very convenient, because I always had somebody to accompany me." "And what do you think of the Australian girl, Mr. Dawson?" At this point, Mr. Dawson's eyes, which ~normally twinkle, positively glowed with enthusiasm. "Splendid! splendid! Beautifully dressed, and lovely figures, thanks to all this tennis and golf and swimming. And they’re doing a splendid job of warwork. They’re great girls, all right."

At this point, our reporter folded her tent like the Arabs and began to steal away. But Mr. Dawson called her, back. "And when I say Australian, I mean the New Zealand girl, too," said Mr, Dawson. "There’s nobody can touch ‘em. They’re splendid girls."