AUCKLAND SINGER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 127, 31 May 1935, Page 3

AUCKLAND SINGER.

SECOND CHALIAPIN?

SMITHY'S FORGE TO FAME MOTHER TELLS THE STORY.

When he clanged a 131b hammer oil the anvil at a Freeman's Bay smithy, Oscar Natclisc sang the simple songs that his mother had taught him and dreamed of a musical future. It is a dream which now has every prospect of coming true; as he is making good progress with his studies ill London and has received favourable notice from critics who have heard him, some of them holding the opinion that he may be a second Chaliapin. He is now just on 23 years of age.

Last year a number of musical enthusiasts in Auckland assisted to give the i-oung New Zcalandor liis chance in Engn lid to be properly trained, and to them the progress he has made is a source of gratification. Oscar was born at Matipara, on a 1000-acro farm which his parents had ibout 20 miles to the cast of Te Awainutu. As a boy he went to the Fairfiekl school at Hamilton. Next he wont :o the Clevedon school, and later to the Dstond school at Waihekc Island. "As a boy he had a good voice and ivas fond of singing," said hi* mother this morning. "I had been a concert and ?hurch choir vocalist, arid I gave him ivhat training I could. Tlien Oscar came to Auckland and got a job at Mr. T. Tnglis' smithy nt Freeman's Bay. He 'ang before Sir. Homer Samuels, the iiusband of Oalli-Ctirci, and Mr. John Rrownlee, and they both «aid that Oscar !iad a voice worth training. .Several Auckland teachers gave him encouragement, and then Air. Anderson Tyrcr, examiner for Trinity College of Music, ivho was visiting Auckland, heard him, ind by cabling to London arranged for Dscar to have three years' free tuition indcr one of the best teachers there. Oscar Natchsc is described as a bari-tone-bass with a voice of great power ind resonance, and the present intention s to have him trained for opcratic work, tt was in last November that lie sang jefore an audience of Auckland musical •ntluisiasts who were interested in his : uture. and all were impressed with the noKsibilities of the young New Zeaander's voice.