A New and Brilliant Quartet for 3YA

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 21, 9 December 1927, Page 5

A New and Brilliant Quartet for 3YA

Lovers of opera will be delighted to learn that a quartet of exceptional talent in the persons of Madame Gower-Burns, Miss Jessie .King, Mr. Harold Prescott, and Mr. Bernard Rennell, is specialising in opera from 3YA, and will be coming to the microphone shortly.

Described by several world-famous artists from overseas as the ‘Melba of New Zealand, Madame GowerBurns occupies a unique and unchallenged position in the musical life ot Christchurch, not only because of her wonderful vocal gift, but also becanse of the great extent to which she has devoted it to the advantage of the city. She has been unstinting in her efforts in ay good cause. In return, Christchurch has honoured Madame Gower-Burns with all the means in its power. She has not been altogether like the proverbial prophet who is hououred save in his own country. She has sung by command before and been congratulated by Royalty-the King) } and Queen, the Prince of Wales, and the Duke of York, She is the only lady soloist to have sung in Christchurch Cathedral Choir. She was honoured by the Roman Catholic Church when she was asked to sing at the Cpening of the new Cathedral, a most important occasion. When the war broke out Madame was the first person in Christchurch to organise a patriotic concert, and was the first, and for several years the only, lady soloist at Anzac Day memorial services. Madame Gower-Burns also had the distinction of being the first in Christchurch to produce the song cycles, ‘Persian Garden," "The Daisy Chain," ‘and ‘Flora’s Holiday." Madame Gower-Burns’s voice was really trained for opera; and had she devoted her life to that branch of art in the capitals of Europe instead of settling in New Zealand, she would have been world famous. Her training | Was in Italy. She lived for many years

there as a child, aud acquired the accent perfectly. She studied for five years in Milan under a great operatic singer, and in England and New Zealand she studied oratorio under the best niasters, The quartet with which Madame Gower-Burns will be associated, and which will bear her name, will specialise in opera. Everyone who’ tunes in to 8YA on Thursday, December 15, will listen to a delightful entertainment, The next appearance of the quartet will be just before Christmas, when it is intended that the programme should be in keeping with the occasion. Miss Jessie King, contralto, who holds the diploma of Associate of the Conservatorium of Musi., Melbourne, has had the greater part of her musical training at that institution, covering a period of several years of close study of all the mecessary departments of vocal equipment, including languages. Miss King studied with Miss Mary Campbell, to whom Dame Nellie Melba has referred as "one of my lieutenants,’ and to whom, in the forword of her _ recently-published work, ‘‘The Melba Method," she expresses her indebtedness for her share in compiling the book. Miss King herself has had the distinct advantage of having attended the Melba classes at the Conservatorium, and of having had personal instruction from the great diva. In this connection she was privileged to appear in scenes from opera, with Dame Melba as the principal figure, For some time before coming to New Zealand Miss King was an associate teacher on the staff of the Conservatorium in East

Melbourne, and has valuable credentials from the director of the Conservatorium, Mr. Tritz Hart, F.R.C.M. Of Dominion-wide reputation, Mr. Harold Prescott, the well-known bel canto tenor, comes of a very old-es-tablished musical family of Manchester, England. Mr. Prescott has sung with a number of famous artists, and when Fraser Gange and Amy [vans were in. New Zealand, in 1920, they spoke in the highest terms of lis interptetative powers and his’ artistic and conscientious rendering of classical music. A few of Mr, Prescott’s recent engagements include ‘‘Lucia de Lammermoor," ‘Carmen,’’ ‘'Faust," "Hiawatha," ‘Cavaleria Rusticana," "Judas Maccabaeus," "The Creation," "Rlijah," ‘The Messiah," ‘Olivet to Calvary," Elgar’s "King Olat,’ and "Caractacus," ‘The Rose Maiden,’ and ‘‘Merrie England," for which Mr. Prescott has been tenor soloist no less than eight tiines. Another fine singer who has not been parsimonious in his efforts for charity and to the public generally is Mr. Bernard Rennell, a member of the Madame Burns Operatic Quartet. Mr. Rennell, who is a pupil of Mr. Roland Foster, of the Conservatorium of Music, Sydney, performed with success in Sydney, and played the part of the Host in "May Queen" (opera) at the Conservatorium Tiall. In Christchurch he has taken an active part in musical circles, principallv with the Amateur Operatic Society and "Charities, Unlimited." During the visit of the Duke ef York Mr, Rennell sang before him at a cabaret given by the Hon, Mr. Taha Rhodes.