A Scottish Soprano

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 43, 9 May 1930, Page 5

A Scottish Soprano

Broadcasting Artist of Note ome "THE visiting Scottish singer, Miss Gretta Don, who will sing for the Wellington Harmonic Society on Saturday evening, May 10, when the concert Was broadcast: by 2Y¥A, will be heard .. from 3YA on Thursday, May 15. Miss Don has made a special study of the singing of the melodious "Songs of the Hebrides." She has sung exten sively for the B.B.C., and has also sung in America. As a broadcasting artiste her singing 1s delightful. Included in the six lovely Hebridean songs which Miss Don will sing at 3YA will be "Kirsteen," one of the songs not frequently heard. To an air from Skye, Kenneth Muacteod put Gaelic words which Mrs. Kenunedy-Fraser has translated. The looker-on asks Kirsteen: "Who will walk with thee by the deep blue seu?" "Who wil] be by thy side at the high spring tide, walking with his bride?’ And lastly, "Wheu thou, grown frail, Fare with Binne Bheul, who'll fain with ‘thee sail?" Binnie Bheul ("Mouth of Music’) is, explains the writer, "one who needeil neither rudder nor sail, but only the rwish of her own heart to carry her tin her own barge to where the sun never ‘sets, the wind uever rises, and the music never ceases." It is not alone in Scottish songs that Miss Don has earned distinction. She studied singing in Edinburgh and Loudon, where she ulso attended the Lovdon School of Opera. She has given recitals in Edinburgh, London, Boutnemouth, ete, and sung in opera with Glastonbury players. She has appeared in oratorio with the Reid Symphony Orchestra, the Leeds Symphony Orchestra. the Scottish Orchéstra, and other societies. Miss Don will be singing from 4YA on Sunday. May 18 when the programme will also be broadcast by 8YA.