SINGER'S BIG CHANCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 92, 20 April 1939, Page 4

SINGER'S BIG CHANCE

DENIS DOWLING

A GOOD IMPRESSION

DIFFICULT OPERATIC ROLE

CBy Air Mail, from "The Post's" London Representative.). . . .

LONDON, March 23.

A young New Zealand singer, pratstically unknown in London's musical circles, was presented this week. with, the opportunity about which most ambitious artists dream but can rarely grasp. Understudy to a well-known singer at Sadler's Wells, Mr. Denis Dowling, of Ranfurly, was called upon at seven hours' notice to sing the most difficult part in "Der Rosenkavalier," a new opera by Richard Strauss, performed in English for the first timeMr. Redfers Llewellyn, playing tli_ baritone role of Faninal, the central figure*1 of the opera, was suddenly taken ill with influenza. At midday Mr. Dowling was told that he would have to play the part that night. There was to be no rehearsal that afternoon, as other members of the cast were indisposed and were reserving their energy for the evening performance. Mr. Dowling, although he,- had learned the part thoroughly as understudy, had never been on the stage with any of the cast. He had, however, been "straight through" the part a fortnight before with an orchestra, but he had only seen the first peiv formance on the stage. . There was a minor case of "jitters ■ among those producing the opera, which is regarded as being extremely difficult, while Faninal's role is one which many actors are said to sidestep with pleasure. It is exceptionally hghly-pttched for a baritone. \ One scene in particular is the despair of producers and cast. A FIRST-CLASS PERFORMANCE. The New Zealander, while appreciating these points, realised that Mr. Llewellyn's illness was his first big chance to show what he could do. He practised all afternoon, and at, night gave. a first-class performance, so that the opera went through without a hitch. "The others were so confident in their parts that even if I had made a mistake they would not have been upset," Mr. Dowling said afterwards. "They made me confident, too, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself." _ . The story, briefly, is that Faninal, arich Baron, has a daughter whom he wants to marry into royal blood, elderly Baron Ochs being the bride-groom-elect. The daughter having a mind of her own, however, marries Octavian, a young nobleman. The dramatic and difficult scene occurs when Faninal discovers Octavian and Baron Ochs fighting a duel, and learns that Octavian is to be his son-in-law. Everyone sings his mind, and the orchestra works overtime. Mr, Dowling hopes that he will again have an opportunity of playing the role before the season ends at Sadler's Wells. For the past three years he has been studying at the Royal Col- , lege of Music, having been awarded an operatic scholarship. He will .leaves the college at the end of July, and his intention is to take up an operatic career.

Mr. Dowling is particularly pleased that he had the opportunity of singing Faninal because he had previously refused the offer of a trip to Portugal with a choir. While the role of understudy was less attractive, he decided that the experience would be better for him. His chance came, and the impression he made was distinctly good.

The New Zej^ander is now an As-f-ciate of the Royal College of Music, and he has taken many parts in the various college plays and operas. Recently, he understudied Harold Williams in Hiawatha in an Albert Hall performance, and in December he sang for the Queen when she met Dominion students. He was one of the New Zealanders to sing in the Westminster Abbey Choir during the Coronatioa service.