Christchurch Singer Back From Britain

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32210, 31 January 1970, Page 12

Christchurch Singer Back From Britain

Having reached the decision that if he wants to make singing his career he will have to sing as a soloist, the Christchurch tenor, Anson Austin, has returned from three years and a half with the 8.8. C. Chorus with the intention of trying to make his career in Australia and New Zealand. Mr Austin, with his wife and 18-month-old son, returned to New Zealand about

a week ago, and in April he will join the Australian Opera Company on a sixmonth contract to sing Rodolfo in “La Boheme.”

Mr Austin, now aged 29, became interested in singing at the age of 16, when he was at the Christchurch Boys* High School. After leaving school he entered the civil engineering field, singing remaining a hobby, but when the opportunity arose to join the 8.8. C. Chorus in London he took it.

Singing with the chorus was very valuable experience, he said yesterday, but if one stayed in a chorus too long there was a danger of losing

one’s ability to co -municate with an audience as a soloist. Mr Austin prefers oratorio and recitals, “but it is very difficult to live from that kind of singing anywhere in the world.”

Although he missed London, Mr Austin said, he preferred New Zealand or Australia as a place in which to bring up a family. “It may be a bit unfair to make this comment so soon, .but it seems to me that people in New Zealand have more concern for their homes and families," Mr Austin said. Britain seemed so overcrowded, and his first impression of New Zealand after his absence was “the almost complete lack of traffic." Compared with London, traffic in Wellington was. like that in a country village, he said.

26 Drownings.—The National Water Safety Council reports 26 drownings from January 1 to January 27, including four in the last three days. Nearly half of the 26 were children.—(P.A.).