Week Of Welcome To Radio Stars

Radio Record, 26 June 1936, Page 7

Week Of Welcome To Radio Stars

FINE FSINGERS _

FLxSHeSt

EXT week will be busy j with welcomes for the ‘listeners of this country, for it will witness the introduction through the national microphones of some artists the like of whom may be heard only once in ~ a long while. In addition to the new "importations"’ of musical talent there are to be considered those two fine singers who have already become acquainted with their radio audiences-Beatrice Pugh and Grace Wilkinson, soprano and contralto respectively, the former an Aus- « tralian and the latter a New Zealander. ‘But beyond these personalities there loom the figures of Florence Austral, John Amadio, Browning Mummery and Sydney de Vries. Four or five weeks ago Grace Wilkinson swept through Wellington on a swift intention to get back to her old friendg in Christchurch, where her welcome was that to be expected of an old friend of the city and one ‘who had made a not unenviable name for herself on the other side of the world. Two weeks ago she started-a tour of the national stations at 2YA, and the friendly manner in’ which she introduces herself to listeners has already . had its reward in the appreciation ex"pressed by her audience. As she explained to a "Radio Record" representative last week, "I like the friendYiness of speech through -the micro-

phone for those people who are going to listen tome. After all, I’m about to tell them a story in music, and unless I get that personal contact beforehand, both they: and myself are missing something." | Through’ the interest and encouragement of Dame Clara Butt after she had heard Miss Wilkinson sing in Christchurch some eight years ago, the young contralto was able to go to England and Europe for study. Sir Henry Wood, Kennedy Scott and Sir Dan Godfrev were three of the outstanding musiciai with whom she has been associated England, and in Berlin she studied wit. Conrad von Bos, through whom she was able to appear in the German capital. In Paris her further tuition was with Madame Croiza. Recitals, oratorios and symphony concerts in England saw many appearances of the New Zealander, and several broadcasts were given. "I found the people in Berlin most ‘kind and hospitable," said Miss Wilkinson. "One cannot help but see the change there is in music since the expulsion of Jews, many of whom had been in the front rank. But the Germans’ love of music is undiminished. They love the simple things of life, yet they’re so serious at the back of it all" Already the tour of Beatrice Pugh has begun, (Continued on page. 8.)

Welcome to Stars

(Continued from previous page.) and her voice is no less attractive than when she made brief appearances here in January this year. She is an Australian who has spent several years in England for voice culture, during / which time she was broadcast by. the © B.B.C. in several outsidé concert: relays, and from the Empire station. Her husband is business manager for the Brisbane Repertory Society, providing . an affinity of interest in the Blake household. Since Beatrice Pugh was here in January shé has been broadcasting regularly for the Australian Broadcasting . Commission: In next week’s programmes also appear the names of Florencé Austral and John Amadio, who are to be heard from 2YA on July 2. These two searcély need introducing to listeners, many of whom-havé doubtless tuned in to their pérformances in the last mahy months while they weéte with the A.B.C. Amadio comés from Wellington, and he is unquestionably among the three finést flantists in the world. During the last two years Florence Austral, his wife, has been starréd in both public 2 and studio presentations of grand opera in Australia, and proof of her popularity and ability lie in thé length of time she has spent on her engagement with the A.B.C. With these two will come Carl Bartling, as pianist and accompanist. Sydney de Vries, starting his tour at 2YA on July 7, is (to quote his-own words) "a glaring example of the stage running in families." His greatgrandmother, Louise de Vries, was a famous singer at the opera in Paris. His grandmother created the part ‘of_.: Salome in Massenet’s opera "Herod ade" in 1884. Wer children all went on to the operatic stage except Sydney de Vries’s father, who encouragéd his som to study medicine. Failing to take a degree, however, th: young Syd- , ney started voice training, and from his first performance in pantomime to the present day he hasn’t looked back. He, too, has distinguished himself among Australian listeners during the last year or so. These, with Browning Mummery, who also opens his tour on July 7, form the first contingent of this season’s visiting artists. Their reputations are | of the highest, and particularly for i those who prefer serious music there will be a rich month Or So ahead.