Australia's Song-bird.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 18, 1 May 1902, Page 1

Australia's Song-bird.

Everyone has heard ol Amy Castles and everyone knows how naturally and pardonably proud Australians are of their latest queen of song. Miss Castles has had a brief but brilliant career. It is only three years ago since she first attracted notice as a pupil in a convent school in Bendigo. Through the influence and under the direction of the Rev. Father Robinson of Melbourne —himself a great musical enthusiast— the gifted school-girl was brought prominently before the public and was received with such enthusiastic appreciation that in a few months she had earned the handsome sum of Having thus provided the ' sinews of war ' she set out for Paris to undergo a course of study and careful training in the niceties of the vocal art. She at once took up her residence with the Sisters of the Sacred Heart in Paris, and placed herself in the hands of the famous teacher, Madame Marchesi. All the Australian critics and authorities who had heard Miss Castles were agreed in regarding her as a pure soprano but Madame Marchesi decided that her voice was a dramatic contralto and proceeded to tram her accordingly. For a time the young pupil deferred to Madame's supposed superior judgment but at length, feeling satished that the great teacher had made a mistake, she left her and commenced to study, as a soprano, under Monsieur Fouhy. It is significant ot the position which the convent pupil had attained in the musical world that her decision to leave Madame Marchesi was considered of sufficient interest to be sent as a cable message all over the world. Miss Castles continued undei M. Fouhy until last year when she made her first appearance in London at one ot the Boosey concerts. Her London Jibnt was a complete success and even the staid and sober Time* predicted for her a splendid futuie and an assured place as one of the world's greatest singers. After a successful London season Miss Castles engaged with Mr. I. C. Williamson for a conceit tour in Australia and for this she receives, it is said, the magnificent fee of £5000.

On her return to Melbourne the other week Miss Castes was accorded a grand public reception, at which the GovernorGeneral, Federal Ministers, and all the celebrities of the city took part. Her first concert was given on the following night, and the Melbourne and S>di c} papeis, without exception, arc enthusiastic over her success. The Sydney Morning Herald sa\s •- ' '1 here was only one opinion as to the wonderlul richness ol her voice, and musical experts who are able to compare the present with the pa^-t are agreed that slu- has made substantial progress during the paM. two je-ars in fixing the vocal tones and technique, and th it futther progress m the s'inie direction will ensure a splendid career.' And the musical critic of the Melbourne Argus thus desci ibes her singing — ' Miss Castles's voice is still what it was when she left Victoria. It is a soprano of peculiarly captivating quality. The vocal tone is firm, broad, and resonant. Her notes are insistent in acoustic e'itect without being too incisively penetrative. 'Hie texture of the voice is — to use a term san< lioned by such a great musician as Thalbcrg— " velvety." The tones caress the ear rather than strike it. She gives }ou the idea that she must

sing though she die for it. Nature has favored her with a marvellous gift, and she revels in its use. When she sang in Melbourne three years ago she was immature, but her singi.ig promised to improve under tuition. The promise has been more than fulfilled. She returns midway in her studies, to give Australians an opportunity to note her progress, and, having regard to the advancement already accomplished, we may confidently expect that on the completion of her training she will take a high position in the musical world. Miss Castles has very frankly offered herself for consideration in the role of a student. She might well have claimed a hearing on any terms, but it is as an advanced student of course that her efforts call for criticism. The audience was not satisfied with one song ; Miss Castles was called and recalled several times.' Miss Castles commences this week a very brief concert tour in this Colony, and we are sure she will receive everywhere the enthusiastic welcome to which her history and her merits entitle her.