SINGER'S RETURN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 126, 29 May 1937, Page 21

SINGER'S RETURN.

MISS JESSIE KING.

MUSIC IN VIENNA.

CHRISTCHURCH,

A charming member of the long line > of famous Australian singers has been visiting Christchurch, t>ut not for the 1 iirst time. It is nine yeara since Miaa 1 Jessie King left Christchurch, and she « lias travelled far, musically and geo- J graphically, since then. Born in Western Queensland, Miss King's present visit to the Antipodes was planned primarily to see her family 1 in Australia. At the same time she is fulfilling broadcasting Engagements in New Zealand and also in her native country. During her residence here she sang over the air for the first time in her life from Station 3YA, Christchurch, and appeared as a soloist in concerts given by the leading musical societies, and took pupils for singing. Two years in Vienna, studying and giving performances, was a wonderful experience for a music-starved colonial. "You can steep yourself in music in Vienna," she said. "They have a wonderful musical tradition. The Viennese would sooner go without a meal than miss the opera. They will wait for hours to see a performance, and know all the operas from A to Z." London's Prominence. Though -London was the biggest musical centre now, and one heard all the great artists there, Miss King thinks _ that Vienna or Southern Germany is the right place for a colonial artist to study. Miss King speaks little of herself. Her record as shown by press cuttings and comments is none the less impressive. After her debut in Vienna she went to London, and has sung with leading orchestral and choral societies in London and the provinces, including the Sheffield musical festival, and in Scotland. The critics join in praise of lier mezzo-contralto voice. Speaking of New Zealand friends in London, she mentioned with praise Malcolm and Merle Miller, both of whom were doing extraordinarily well in that world of intense musical competition, Stella Murray, Nelle Scanlan, Hubert Carter and Stanley Morgan.