ALFRED O'SHEA.

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 19388, 14 August 1928, Page 13

ALFRED O'SHEA.

Of Irish parents, Alfred O'Shea, the now world-famous tenor, was born in Sydney, and at a very early age he proved ho was a born minstrel. As a youth the great natural beauty of his voice was evidont bb a soloist in the cathedrals and on the concert platform. After one of his Sydney Town Hall concerts a prominent musical critic wrote: "He has the sorrow of Ireland andl the sunshine of Australia in his voice." The wonderful quality and ease of production have since been developed under the gres.t masters of France and Jtaly, and he has now established an international reputation to compare with that of John McCormack. In fact, some of the critics claim that he even surpasses McCormack in some of his interpretations of Irish folk-songs. Mr O'Shea had the unique distinction of giving four concerts in one season in London, when tho critic of the ' 'Pall Mall .Gazette'' considered him to rank with the world's greatest tenors, and the "Morning Post" said: "Australia has given us several great singers, including Melba, and now for the first time adds a distinguished' tenor to the list.". Christchurch will have the opportunity of hearing this great tenor in, entrancing programmes specially compiled from his large repertoire of grand opora excerpts, ballads, Irish folk-songs, and melodies; The concerts will be at the Municipal Concert Chamber, on Friday, Saturday, and Monday. The bos plan is at The Bristol.