–and World-Famed Husband from N.Z.

Radio Record, Volume XI, Issue 1, 10 July 1936, Page 16

–and World-Famed Husband from N.Z.

In the role of Brunnhilde, in ‘‘Die Valkyrie,’"’ Madame Florence Austral is pictured on the right. Famous as she is for her Wagner, this is her most outstanding Wagnerian characterisation. . Below is John Amadio, formerly of Wellington, . her illustrious ‘flute-playing husband,

OST womén change their name only once in their M lifetime-but. Madame: Florence Austral, the celebrated Australian. soprano, who last Thursday opened a tour of the Nationa] stations, has had four names since she came into the world. No, she has not been in the divorce courts. She was |. :

christened Florence ‘Mary Wilson as a baby,: but later she adopted her stepfathet’s name, Fawaz,.and it was . as Florence Fawaz that she first attracted attention in musical circles in Melbourne. However, when the time came for her debut at Covent Garden the director of the Opera House was most emphatic on the a Se oe

PYRE that Liorence Fawaz was a name that would not "register" with the public, In the: first’ place,no. one’ would » know: how to ,pronounce. Fawaz, and if ‘they’ did *know " they wouldn’tremember it, he said, So. Miss Fawaz ‘had to get busy and think up a hame. the public: would remember. Feeling very ‘nervous," and home-siek for her» country, the young

Australian singer timidly suggested "Austral." "The yery thing," replied’ the director,. "and-"if ..your stage-name brings -you:.. the

same good fortune asthe name Melba. has done for Dame Nellie, you will have no cause for worry." Thus it was that Florence Fawaz became Florence Austral, and within a few days of changing her name the young soprano had become famous. A ‘couple of years later Florence Austral married John Amadio, and now, if she wanted to confound autograph-seekers, she could write her name as Florence. Wilson-F'awaz-Austral-Amadio, Now she has come to New Zealand with her husband, and Dominion listeners may hear her flute-like soprano notes and the tones of John Amadio’s flutes from the same stations in combined recitals. When Madame Austral ar-. rived in Wellington on Tuesday last week, she had to spend two days a-bed owing.to a chill, but her first recital on Thursday night from 2YA gave listeners an «uppetite for more, Even when she was a schoolgirl! in Melbourne her rich Soprano proved a constant source of amazement to her friends, for its extraordinary power was something of.a

phenomenon. It was more of a joke than anything elsein her own estimation-when some friends persuaded her to enter’ as a competitor in the Ballarat festival, and nobody was more surprised than she herself when her voice aroused the keen interest of the judges. The name Wagner. then conveyed nothing to her, and when some of the musicians present predicted that she would some day be a fine Wagnerian singer, Florence -was not quite: sure whether or not they were ‘having a joke at her expense. But within a period of 15 years Florence Austral found herself acclaimed. not only as a great Wagnerian singer. but as the greatest Wagner artist. of the present time! Fresh from triumphs overseas, she returned to her country two and a half years ago for a Six-months’ concert tour with John Amadio. This was, however, followed by a long

engagement with the Fuller Grand. Opera Company. (Sir Benjamin Fuller built the company round Ma dame Austral, considering her presence in Australia too.good an opportunity to be wasted.) Then a broadcasting tour was undertaken with joint recitals of husband and

wife. Finally there was a season of broadcast operas in which Madame Austra] again starred, this time under the aegis of the Australian Broadcasting Comuission. From here the two are going to tour America with the National. Broadcasting Company, thence back to-their home in London. Soon after their arrival in England Madame Austral will again be on the move when she tours the country with the famous violinist, Szigeti. It’s a busy life.

Tharks to recordings and performances broadcast in Australia in the last couple of years, Madame Austral’s name is far from unfamiliar to New Zealanders, and always it is linked with that of her New Zealand husband, for their joint recitals

have been most successful. John Amadio has become a flautist of the highest degree of fame. But. he has no more lost the friendly naturalness and approachability to: which colonial life is accustomed (although it is 17 ‘years since he was in Wellington) than has Madame. "It is remarkable how easily one gets familiar again With the city," he said to a "Radio Record" representative. "I have been along a few streets near my old home, and there are still many of the same old houses there. This morning I was greatly pleased to have a call from Charles Hill. We were boys together, and I-used to have lessons from Mr. Hill, sen., brother of Alfred Hill and leading Wellington flautist." *.. : . John Amadio is a doughty man with bishops, rooks, pawns and all the rest of the pieces on a chessboard. In ‘fact, there seems to be something of an affinity between the "Amadio clan" and the chess-board. John’s father, : Mr. "Tony" Amadio, of Melbourne, also a brilliant flautist, is an ardent chess-player, and several other members of

the family divide their interests between chessmen and flutes, while a brother-in-law, Mr. H. H. Gunderson, has been several times chess champion of Victoria. Tenhis and motoring are two other enthusiasms of the visiting artist. In the grounds of their home in London they have a hard court, making play possible for nine months of the year -when they are at home. But whereever they go, these two enjoy motoring. "In London I used to drive’ Madame to and from réhéarsals and concerts, and we have toured dover England by ear," remarked Mr. Amadio, "Madame is never happy in a car with anyone but myself at the wheel, for she has become accustomed to being with me. Although | she doesn’t drive, she has

a marvellous gift for locality, and many times driving in thick rain and thunderstorms she has been able to give directions where I might have been lost. But Madame is not ‘a backseat driver. She is just wide awake all the time, and watching every signpost, "Radio Record" readers have alteady been acquainted with John: Amadio’s adoption of four different flutes, including a bass one, -Wach of the four types will be heard at one time or another during. the present. tour. The bass flute, by the way, forms the centre of an amtising incident. Some years ago Danie Nellie Melba invited John Amadio to attend with her at Lord Farquhar’s house a recital in the presence of Queen Mary. ‘The flautist took along his bass flute, and

after his performance the Queen. com~plimented the "player and added, "Where on earth do-you get all tie breath from?" "Tt does take a lot of breath: to fill the big one," remarked the Welling: tonian’ with a smile-to the ‘Radic . Record," not to Queen Mary.