The Entertaining Tenor

New Zealand Listener, Volume 11, Issue 266, 28 July 1944, Page 7

The Entertaining Tenor

vices in camps about Auckland is just about a full-time job for Owen James (New Zealand-born tenor), who has organised a _ concert party under the direction of A.E.W.S. and the NBS. Six months ago, he returned to New Zealand after 12 years spent studying and working in Australia, the last two years of the 12 as an entertainer in the Army. Did he come back to stay, or merely for the trip? we asked him. To stay, he said firmly. New Zealand, he said, would do him; he intends to teach-when the war is over. Did he go to Australia to stay, or merely for the trip? we asked him. He went to study. First he went to Melbourne, and later to the Sydney Conservatorium. In Melbourne he had lessons from Adolf Spivakovsky, brother of the pianist Jascha, and the violinist Tossy. And did he spend all his time in Australia, until he went into the Army two years ago, studying? we asked him. Oh, no, he said; he worked as advertising manager for an industrial firm; in his spare time he studied and gave broadcast recitals:and took. part in concerts. And at first he was just an ordinary soldier in the. Army — until they took him into the entertainment unit. We gathered that the advertising business earned him his bread and butter (he was in the army by the time rationing was .introduced) and singing brought him the icing on his cakes. So we asked him about his present work. In his concert party he has a pianist and men and women singers, and he always includes a comedian. At the moment he has one in the party whom he describes as very excellent, the reason for this excellence being that the comedian makes jokes that. are clean as well as good, FE NTERTAINING the armed ser-

Mr. James told us that he has three programmes, a very light, a medium light, and an educational. In six weeks he plans to give about 20 concerts round the district. He doesn’t repeat the same programme, of course, on a second visit to any particular camp. All the members of the party have. extensive. repertoires, and there’s no danger of running out of light, medium light, or educational items. The songs and items range from Irish and Scots traditional songs to grand opera; and anyone who sings from grand opera always gives a versign of the story-"in terms that can be understood by the audience." ‘Mr. James demonstrated for us, taking "Your Tiny Hand is Frozen" as his example. We felt it would probably go down in a big way with the camp audience. Listeners to 1YA have heard Owen James in recent studio recitals,