AUSTRIAN SINGERS AND DANCERS

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27992, 12 June 1956, Page 7

AUSTRIAN SINGERS AND DANCERS

“GOODWILL MISSION” TO N.Z. BEGINS (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 11. A doctor of law and a doctor of philosophy headed a group of 22 Austrian folk-singers and dancers on their arrival at Wellington today in the Ruahine. They described themselves as a “goodwill mission of artists.” Dr. Susanne Polsterer, a founder of the group, is a remarkable young woman whose stage and radio career has been closely linker, with an equally successful academic career—she obtained a doctorate in philosophy to overcome her parents’ objection to making the stage her exclusive career. She was married two weeks before she set out for New Zealand after a courtship in the best tradition of the theatre. Her husband is Mr Harry Kupetz, director of the Linz State radio station. When she met him, he was directing a radio play in which she had a leading part. Audiences should not expect “highclass” music nor Viennese operettas from the group, she said. Programmes would be mostly songs and dances from all parts of Austria.

The other leader and founder of the group is Dr. Oscar Bock, a lecturer in law at the University of Vienna. He said the artists were brought together in 1949 to use music to help in promoting better international understanding.