RICHARD CROOKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 237, 6 October 1936, Page 9

RICHARD CROOKS.

ARRIVING FRIDAY. The visit of Richard Crooks, who will arrive from the South Island on Friday, will bring a singer who is already extremely popular with lovers of all types of music through the medium of his gramophone records. Richard Crooks is one of the outstanding tenors of the day. Not only has he a rarely beautiful voice, but also a singer's instinct. In the five languages which he sings, particularly English, Mr. Crooks has the gift of complete clarity of diction. He is assured of an enthusiastic welcome when he makes his first appearance on the Auckland concert platform next Saturday night. Over three thousand seats were booked when the plans opened yesterday, covering the three concerts to "be given in Auckland. Additional rows of seats in all parts of the hall were available for booking. Mr. Crooks will have the support of the solo pianist and accompanist Frederick Schauwecker, who will play solo numbers at each, concert. On. the opening programme on Saturday night Mr. Crooks will sing "If Thou Be Near" (Bach), "Serenade" (Haydn), "I Love Thee" (Beethoven), "Per Pieta" fStradella), "Le Reve," from Massenet's "Manon," and the aria from "Fedora" (Giordano). For the final jjroup of the programme popular numbers will be selected from "The Bell Man," "I'll Sail Upon the Dog Star." "Retreat," "Sweet Mystery of Life," "Absent," "Yours is My Heart Alone," '"Life and Death." "I Know of Two Bright Eyes,'' "Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal," "Song of Songs," "Have You Seen ! But a Whyte Lillie Grow?" "Neapolitan Love Song" and others from a repertoire of three hundred songs. Music-lovers are invited to send in the names of songs desired to be sung on the final group of each programme.