A Noted Australian Artist

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 1, 18 July 1930, Page 45

A Noted Australian Artist

Concludes New Zealand ‘Tour . -_? : : Me BAREND. HARRIS, the Australian bass-baritone, who hag just concluded a tour of the Dominion under engagement to the Broadcasting Company, has been-a great delight to New Zealand listeners. . He sang from 1YA, 2YA and .3YA. Asa regular broadcasting artist in Australia, Mr. Hartis was, ofcourse, sreatly interested in the New Zealand

statiofis, and before he left this Dominion he had’ some interesting comments to make soncerning the New Zealand service. "T hardly knew what to expect when I came to New Zealand," he said; "but I certainly anticipated nothing like the experiences I have had. I have nothing but praise for the stations, the Staffs and the organisation. To enter a New Zealand station is like walking into one’s own home. ‘There is a delightfully friendly and homely attitude everywhere which does not in the least . interfere with the efficiency with which the station is run-but it means a lot to an artist. I have no reason to suppose that I have been favoured any moreythan anyone else, but I speak as I t d the YA stations.’ ave been particularly charmed with 2YA station," went on Mr. Harris. "It compares well with any station I have ever visited.. The studio furnishings at all the YA stations have zreatly impressed me. .They are luxurious and yet they fit in-so well with the general homely atmosphere which pervades that an artist feels as he walks up to the microphone that he is. in a well-appointed. drawing-room." Speaking of New Zealand programmes generally, Mr. Harris praised the high standard of en4 It was a pleasuré to note the absence: of "low-brow" music, He said that during the time he had been in this country he had ‘met many people and discussthe broadcasting’ service with them, with the result that he was returning to Australia . convinced

ee eee eee ree eee RCC E OEE REDEE New Zealand was well catered for by the Broadcasting Company and. that New Zealand listeners were satisfied with the service. . Mr. Harris’s success in broadcastin is in a measure dué to his mastery o: broadcasting technique. He has made a careful study of thé microphone, its capabilities and its limitations, and he sings to it in the manner calculated to give the best results when teproduced through the loudspeaker. He therefore had some qualms when asked to sing at the Christchurch. Radio’ Exhibition, for there was there an audience before him to which he desired to give his best, and there was also a. microphone into which he desired to sing as he knew he should sing for the unseen audience. "Your station’ announcers all seem ‘to be very popular with listeners, I have heard no serious criticism of them," remarked Mr. Harris. * "Alto: gether, my experience of broadcasting in New Zealand has been a great pleasure ard my recollections will be of the happiest. Every broadcast station always receives a lot of adverse criticism, for it is impossible to please every ore. However, I am sure that no ¢ompany could cater better for listeners than does the New Zealand Broddcaating Company."