FAMOUS SOPRANO.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19770, 7 November 1929, Page 5

FAMOUS SOPRANO.

GIANNINI IN CHRIST CHURCH. j TALK ON MANY SUBJECTS. Twenty six years old, happy in her art, and very charming to meet is Signorina Dusolina Giannini, the great operatic and. concert soprano, who is making her first visit to New Zealand, and who is to appear in the City this week. "I was born in Philadelphia, but spiritually I am an Italian," said Giannini to a representative of Thk Press who called on her yesterday. Giannini is of medium height, dark, and of alluring Latin personality. She speaks in a low, clear voice, and illustrates her points in conversation with gestures which give a perfect rounding-off to her sentences. Giannini has just completed a highly successful tour of 39 concerts in Australia, and in New Zealand sho has given four concerts in Auckland, three in Wellington, and is booked for ,two in Christchurch. On her return she will give a concert in Wellington, and on her way back to America she will appear in Honolulu, then opening a season on January 6th at Los Angeles. Next conies a rngthv tour of America, to be followed .nth a season at Covent Garden, London. The operatic star was interesting on her \iews on the "talkies." "The artist does not secure full quality. It is the same as in singing for the gramophone and for the radio." she said. "All forms of reproduction of the voice are lacking in spontaneitv. The artist is not en rapport with the audience for the simple reason that the audience is not there. One does not experience that sense of communication that tells one how the number is being received. I have noticed that the smileand bow at the conclusion of the piece is forced, and empty. Still, the "talkies" are, in many cases, excellent, and one cannot altogether dismiss them as a passing phase. "Now, when you talk of jazz, we are on an interesting subject, but we could discuss it for a long time without getting far," said Giannini, in reply to the reporters question. "Jazz is interesting. I like it, for it is full of rhythm," she added, "but it has no effect upon the composition of the great works. If a man was inspired to-day to write great music he could not be influenced bv jazz. The jazz composer writes from the brain and not from the heart, and therein lies the difference." "What is your opinion of Gershwin's pianoforte concerto?'' asked the reporter. "Gershwin is a voung American of great talent," said Giannini, "and he is making jazz much more interesting. While his concerto could not be numbered .with Beethoven, Verdi, Schubert, Brahms, Bach, Wagner, or Puccini, it is typical of American life and holds great promise. Some of the better American jazz bands are very fine, and also very clever, but whether they make general music better or worse it is not for us to say. We must wait and see. Jazz is improving, and surely it is better to dance to good jazz music than bad." Giannini has been a singer all her life, and at the age of three her father stood her on a table for instruction. She has sung in many countries, but of all she prefers to sing in Germany, where enthusiasm for all types of good music is exceedingly keen. She states that the system of "starring" in America has been a drawback to operatic performances, for the reason that the I'm artists are starred for a whole season, and ther take the stage to the exclusion of the performance as a whole. The two permanent opera houses in Chicago and New York with the great orchestras are endowed, and without the endowments it is doubtful if thev could exist. Referring to Maori songs Giannini says that many are very beautiful with their haunting melodies. Her favourite operatic roles are in 'Aida.' "L* Forza del Destine" and "Madame Butterfly " There is a great renaissance of' Yerdi in Germany to-day, and the operas are being presented wun new librettos and gorgeous new scen'fhe artist has all the natural hobbies. She plavs golf and tennis but confesses to" an adoration of flowers. "Our first walk." she says, "will probablv be to the Botanic Gardens." She" does not believe in too strenuous exercises, for the reason that they are apt to tire an artist and affect her performances. Sicnorina Giannini is accompanied bv Sol Deutsch violinist. Molly Bernstein, pianist, and h\ Mr Max Leyine, representing the Daniel Mayer Con-

cert Management, New \ork. Under the direction of E. J. Gravestock, Ltd., Giannini will give two concerts in the Caledonian Hall to-night and on Saturday night.

The population of Italy is now approaching 41 millions.