Distinguished Radio Artist Broadcasts Next Week

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 41, 22 April 1932, Page 5

Distinguished Radio Artist Broadcasts Next Week

For some time now, Winnie Fraser has been an outstanding figure in New Zealand musical circles. Since her return from study in the Old World she has fulfilled engagements for . musical societies from one end of the Dominion to the other, and has been enthusiastically received by concert hall audiences. Madame Fraser is also a popular radio performer, and listeners will welcome her on the air from 3YA on Wednesday next, April 27. She is equally at home in classical ballads, operatic solos or the lighter type of drawing-room songs. . Winnie Fraser is a daughter of the Rev. John Nixon, of New Plymouth. Her husband was the late Mr. J. Fraser, of Oamaru, owner of Wairua Downs Estate and manager for Wright, Stephenson and Company, Oamaru. His death occurred about a year ago, as the result of a motor accident. After studying some years ia New Zealand, Madame Fraser went to the Old Country and was taken as a singing student by Sir Henry Wood. by whom she was coached in many of the oratorios in which she has since sung with remarkable success. Later she went to Vienna to study, and there gave some recitals about which the musical critics spoke in most complimentary terms. She also travelled extensively on the Continent and spent some time staying with friends in Hungary.

In addition to being a highly cultured singer, she is also a very interesting and clever lecturer. In London, Winnie Fraser was fortunate in attracting the attention of. such a musician as Sir Henry Wood, who wished her to remain in London for his season at the Queen’s Hall. Production was studied under Von Seer Muehler, in London, and also for a year in Vienna, under Professor Manzoni. ‘Der Tag" (Vienna) wrote this of her recital: "Music is probably more available to the masses in Vienna than in any other European city, with the result that a Viennese audience is instinctively critical, and has little use for the second-rate performance. But it is quick to realise real merit, and for this reason a very warm reception was accorded to Madame Winnie E. Fraser. The fact that Madame Fraser sang entirely in English did not in any degree detract from the enthusiasm of the audience, which was insistent in its demands for encores, and was only persuaded to leave the hall at the close of the performance by a summary extinguishing of lights. Madame Fraser has a beautiful voice, and made the fullest use of it in a large repertoire including items from the modern German, English and Russian schools. Her voice is a_ strong soprano, and her low notes are exceptionally fine. The last two numbers were Maori songs. In common with all native music, that of the Maoris has a charm of its own." ame ne