WORLD FRIENDSHIP

Evening Star, Issue 22362, 11 June 1936, Page 15

WORLD FRIENDSHIP

INJHAH SINGER AS PEACEMAKER BINA ADDY'S DISTINGUISHED CAREER “ I am a believer in international fellowship, and a worker lor world peace, and by travelling in other countries and meeting other people I can help to cement the bonds of friendship between the peoples of the world.” The speaker was Bina Addy, who represents still another part of the Empire which has not previously been featured in New Zealand’s list of visiting musical artists. She is an Indian mezzo-con-tralto, who has sung professionally in Romo, Paris, Berlin, and London, and has broadcast from the two latter cities on more than one occasion. At present she is on a broadcasting tour of New Zealand, and when her contract expires with the Broadcasting Board at the conclusion of her recitals in Dunedin she hopes to again tour the country as a concert platform artist, so that people will be able to sec as well as hear her. In London she had the honour of appearing before Royalty, she told a reporter this morning. She had also sung to other distinguished audiences in England and at various clubs jn Europe, where she appeared at recitals under the patronage of the various Governors of each place. In London the Hon. Mrs Ronald Greville, one of the leaders of society in England, offered Bina Addy her ballroom at her home in Mayfair for the purpose of giving a recital, which wag a wonderful success, being

patronised by the High Commissioner of India, Lady Snowden, Lady Carmichael, Lady Pentland, the Secretary of State for India, Sir Henry and Lady Wood, Dr Adrian Boult, of the 8.8. C., and several other society personalities. Sir Henry took a deep interest in the Indian artist, and invited her to his country home, where she was privileged to sing in his own studio while he himself played her accompaniments. It was not generally known, she said, that Sir Henry painted in his spare time and also did carpentry work. She viewed his paintings of outdoor life, and was very interested in the windows he had built in an old barn house on his property. ■ It was also his dream, ho told her, that some day he should visit India. On two different occasions while travelling Bina Addy;-had met different people vidio had advised her to try to visit New Zealand and Australia, and she became so interested in the two countries that she decided to wait an opportunity to go there. Now that she has arrived in New Zealand she is particularly pleased she has made the trip, for she has met so many kind and hospitable people here. Bina Addy was a pupil of Mario Cotogni, of Rome, Elena Garhardt, and Fredric King, formerly of the Royal Academy, London, and her repertoire includes Italian, German, Hebridean, and English songs, in addition to negro spirituals. While visiting different countries she always tries to enjoy the foods peculiar to those countries, and for that reason has been sampling colonial goose during her stay in New Zealand. Before leaving the reporter to attend a rehearsal in the 4YA studio Bina Addy remarked that perhaps tbe greatest thrill and honour ever conferred upon her was while in England; where she wag presented to the Duchess of Argyll, who gave her a message to take back to her own people in India. “It was simply that the duchess wanted me to tell my people that the members of the Royal Family had the interests of India ait heart. While she was speaking she honoured me greatly by holding my hand all the time.”