MUSIC IN NEW ZEALAND

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 156, 29 March 1926, Page 6

MUSIC IN NEW ZEALAND

AN ENGLISHMAN’S IMPRESSIONS “Dominion” Special. Nelson, March 27. Mr. Arthur Jordan, the English tenor, who came to New Zealand under engagement to the Dunedin Exhibition authorities, is spending a holiday in Nelson. Speaking to a representative of the Press, Mr. Jordan stated that he had found a keen appreciation of good music in the Dominion. New Zealand had a desire for good music; a ready support for a good artist, and keenness among choristers in association with choral societies. “In Dunedin,” lie said, “the choir organised for the exhibition compared favourably with many at Home. Wellington has another splendid body of singers; which has done noble work, and if the standard of music in other cities is equal to that of Wellington and Dunedin, then music is in a very healthy state in the Dominion.” Mr. Jordan added that he had met many solo singers in New Zealand, and aanong them many voices of very fine calibre. Miss Mabel Esquilant he placed as the finest singer he had heard, remarking that her singing of the “Angel” music ’in the “Dream of Gerontius” was equal to the renderings in England. Other vocalists of outstanding ability were Madame Mina Caldow, Madame’ Winnie Fraser, and Miss McEnroe. Of male singers he could not speak so highly. Good male voices were scarce in this country, be he hajd heard one or two who, if they had time-to studv, could be very fine artists. “We are told,” concluded Mr. Jordan,; “that musically New Zealand cannot compare with Australia.- Mv opinion is that it can, and very favourably, too. Chorally, New Zealand is quite as advanced, while the soloists are better and the fees paid higher.”