“Tremendous Welcome” In Russia For Maori Bass

Press, Volume C, Issue 29503, 3 May 1961, Page 8

“Tremendous Welcome” In Russia For Maori Bass

(Specuil Correspoadewt N.X.P.AJ

LONDON. May 2 Russian audiences “went crazy” over “Waiata Pol" and Maori songs were tremendously popular with them, aaid Inia Wiata. the Maori baas, on his return to London from a tour of Moscow, Leningrad. Tiflis, Yerhervan and Tashkent. He and his accompanist, another New Zealander. Wainwright Morgan, were guests of the Soviet Union. “We had a tremendous welcome everywhere we went." said the singer. “Russians spoil Western artists. They loaded us with flowers and girts and frequently kept us on the stage for two and a half to three hours at a time. “They liked operatic arias and they were delighted when I aang Russian songs in English. I suppose that next to "Waiata Poi’ their favourite was ’Water Boy.* I had to sing it again and again. “Everywhere we went people were friendly, courteous and spontaneous. There was no talk of politics, but I was asked to say what I thought of Yuri Gagarin’s achievement and I said we were very happy and believed

it to be for the benefit of mankind,” he said. “We were in Leningrad when the news came through and people went mad. ce’ebrating in the stroata for hours. We were in Moscow when Khrushchev received Gagarin and it was a great occasion. "We experienced a variety of weather. It was freezing’ in Leningrad, but warm and sunny in Tashkent, the Soviet Union's garden city on the border* of China. There people reminded me by their dress and manner of Italians, warm-hearted and gay. “We were in Tashkent when they were rehearsing the May Day celebrations. Thev began rehearsing. Just after midnight and continued until about 5 o’clock in the morning. It was useless trying to sleep so we watched them from our balconies,” Mr Wiata said.

He will leave London tomorrow for Sydney, where he is due on Sunday to take part in "The Most Happy Fella.” which is expected to be seen in New Zeeland next year.