SINGER NATZKE WILL COME HOME

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 27, 16 December 1938, Page 5

SINGER NATZKE WILL COME HOME

New Zealand Bass Booked For Radio Visit To The Antipodes just a short time ago, young Auckland basso, Franz Oscar Natzke, made operatic history by going straight from Trinity College of Music, London, to a leading role at Covent Garden. Now news comes to the ‘‘Record’’ thai he is booked by the Australian Broadcasting Commission for a tour of their stations. It is almost certain that he will come over to New Zealand to sing-and what is more important to Franz-to see his mother who lives in Auckland. a

Since the dayis four years ago, when he was a relief worker and blacksmith at Waiheke Island in the Hatraki Gulf, Natzke has made a slazzling . ascent to -farne. | "Last week Mrs. Natzke showed the "Record" clippings from the principal London papers, whose eritics hail the student singer as a "find." Without exception these papers.refer to the young man as a sensation. Besides being the first student ever to haye gone from Trinity Goliege into a leading role in Coyent Garden Opera, Franz is the youngest’ basso-he is only 26-to Sing in principal parts in: grand opera in London. On Gctober 10 he appeared with the Covent Garden Opera Company in "Faust," and a fortnight jater, in the first performance of the new opera "The Serf." Writing to Mrs. Natzke, Signor ‘Albert Garcia, Franz’s teacher, expresses his delight with his 5 pupil's performance. Said. Albert — Garcia: ‘Franz shows great promise and when he has more. experience, and able to "throw his voice about" he will be a great man. Indisposition prevented Franz from making his operatic debut as Mephistopheles in "Faust," so he sang the less exacting role of "Wagner" instead. But 10 days later he was able to ereate the role of De Fulke, the blind old feudal lord of the manor

in "The Serf," a new full-length opera by the young Cornish composer, George Lloyd. : Writing in the "Evening Stanaard," Stephen Williams said: "The finest singing of the evening came from Mr, Oscar Natzke as De Fuike, Here at last is a genuine bass voice, rich in colouring, noble in. enunciation." In the "Morning Post," Richard says: "A new singer, a bass from New Zealand, with a voice of beautiful quality in the part of a ‘pere noble’." Other critics, including the dean of English musical writers, Ernest Newman, wrote glowing notices. Just at present Natzke is touring with the opera company in the North of Bngland. This tour finishes about the end of this month. He has just given an audition to the representative of the Australian Broadcasting Commission, who said Natzke was "the finest basso since the early days of Chaliapine." As a result, Franz signed a contract for a broadcasting tour of Australia. Tour will take place early in the new year, and is expected to ‘lead to a similar tour of New Zealand. Afterwards Franz goes to Italy to finish his studies. Until he leaves for Australia, and after the opera season ends, Franz is returning to study at Trinity College.