A GREAT SINGER

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 64, 13 September 1926, Page 4

A GREAT SINGER

CHALIAPIN ARRIVES

DELIGHTED TO SEE NEW ZEALAND.

A perfect spring morning, and Wellington Harbour looking at its very best in the bright sunlight, groeted tho fameus Russian singer, Mr. Feodor _h_Bapin, who arrived this morning frou Sydney on board the Makura. This is Mr. Chaliapin's _rst visit to New Zealand, and lie is taking with him on his tour his wife and family. The beauties of New Zealand —its scenery and climate —Mr. Chaliapin had beon told of before his arrival, and to a

•■Post" representative who saw him coon after his landing ho expressed him»el- as more than delighted with the ■ample already experienced. He said that he hoped at no distant date to feturn and undertake an extensivo tour which will include fishing—ho has heard of the fishing to be had in New Zealand, and he is a keen fisherman. His present engagements allow for only a fortnight in the country, but during that period he hopes to sco as many -..laces of interest in the North Island as possible, especially the thermal district. "I have heard of and read of New Zealand jever since I was a little boy, and I am really pleased to see it at last,'' said Mr. Chaliapin, and he looked it. "You must be a happy people, living near to nature in the bright sun." The singer expressed himself as highly gratified by the reception he had experienced in Australia. The audiences at the concerts he gave in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, were wonderfully appreciative, and he was pleased to find that Russian music was understood and appreciated. Mr. Chaliapin experienced five years of Russia's revolution. His comment was: "Revolutions sound Tomantie enough in books, but in real life they are very hard." He said that the flourishing conditions of the arts and music in Russia had naturally received a great setback owing to the Revolution, but out of* the throes he hoped to see a re-built and an even stronger growth. Although the Soviet had taken over all the theatres, the theatre had probably suffered less than any other institution. Mr. Chaliapin has with him his wife and four daughters, all of whom are naturally much enjoying the tour, and one of their first questions upon arrival was about the beauty spots in the neighbourhood which should be visited Although Mr. Chaliapin talks very good English, one of his daughters is always handy to act as interpreter, but so telling is the great singer's facial expression that even when he is talking in Russian it is comparatively - easy to follow what is being said. Keen and observant, and an obvious lover of nature, Mr. Chaliapin is a delight to talk to. He has two sons; the elder one, just of age, is studying art in Paris, while the younger is trying his hand at the moving picture industry, and is at Hollywood.