RICHARD CROOKS'S TOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 14, 16 July 1936, Page 21

RICHARD CROOKS'S TOUR

The full extent of .the artistry of Richard-Crooks, the American tenor! lias completely taken Australian audiences by surprise, even prepared as they were for singing out. of the ordinary.. He has shown them the perfection of singing—a beautiful voice, renned, moulded, and coloured until it serves to express not only the ex- - ternals, but -the most; inward and intimate spirit of music. The handsome, six-foot tenor has won all hearts by his personality and sheer artistry. Dense crowds attended his Sydney recitals, and critics agreed that the leading tenor of the New York Metropolitan Opera House is indeed a superb musician, singing Bach, Haydn, Stradella, B.eethoven, Massanet, or Strauss, with consummate brilliancy, and delighting all tastes in music with his excellently balanced programmes. His songs are not only,from the classics; he favours the more popular. ballads, as .well .as the old masterpieces, and sings them with facile melodiousness. The New Zealand tour of the famous singer begins at Auckland on September 19, tmde'r'Tait "direction-. -The accompanist is Fred Schauwecker, who is not only . a very able associate to Mr. Crooks, but a *solo pianist of fine expressive judgment. The Wellington season of the famous tenor- ■ commences on. September 26 with further concerts on September 29 and October 1; Christchurch, .October 3-5-G; and Dunedin, October 8-10.