“QUEEN OF SONG”

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 4591, 17 May 1922, Page 4

“QUEEN OF SONG”

MISS ROSINA BUCKMAN. AVORLD-FAAIED SINGER ARRIVES FROAI LONDON. “DELIGHTED TO BE HOME." (From the New Zealand Times). The world-famous prima donna, Miss Rosina Buckmau, who arrived in Wellington on Alonday was interviewed by a Times representative at the Alidland Hotel in the evening. “I would just say,” said Aliss Buckman, “how delighted, how pleased, and liappy I am to be home once more For lam a New Zealander. lam a real New Zealander, because not. only I, but my mother and father Loo, wore born in New Zealand. My mother was born at Nelson, my father in the Wairau Valley, Marlborough, and I was born at Blenheim. Wo have come hero, my husband and I, straight from London, arriving by tho lonic to-day after a most delightful trip. The officers said it was the most wonderful trip they have had. It was a record run from Colon here, a very calm voyage, and we had a most delightful time. You might say, too, how touched I was and how grateful for the great reception that the people of Wellington gave me at your very fine Town Hall to-day, and for the very kind and beautiful tilings said about me by Mr Massey, Sir Joseph AVard, and the Alayor of Wellington, and other speakers. It was most affecting, and to-day will always live ill my memory as one of the happiest days of my life. AFTER. NINE YEARS.

“Now I am to sing to the people of my homeland again; and I hope they will like me. They liked me in the old days, and I trust they will like mo at least as well, if not better, now. It is now some nine and a half years since I left New Zealand to go to England ; and since then I think I must have sung in nearly every town in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, not forgetting the Isle of Alan. L have been everywhere aiul sung everywhere.” “Are you not going to sing any new songs, or feature anv special songs?” asked our representative. “Well, no,” replied Aliss Buckmau. “We are going to feature operatic duets and arias from all the operas in which my husband and I have sung so successfully in England—operas such as T I’agliaccit,’ ‘Madame Butterfly,’ ‘Aida,’ ‘Bolieiue,’ and ‘Cavalleria Rustica.ua ; and we arc going to sing too, a number of old ball als which are favourites with tho people. Amongst these will be ‘Homo, Sweet Home.’ I was risked to sing it at the Town Hall today, but the reception accorded me was so kind, so touching, that there was too much of a lump in my throat for me to do the old ballad justice. At the AVelsli National Eisteddfod atCarnarvon, last year, on the Day of the Overseas Visitors, when Air Lloyd George spoke, I sang ‘Homo Sweet Homo’ to 15,000 people; and they were all crying One of tho Welsh papers wrote a long leading article saying how I touched tho hearts of all thero.

WORK AHEAD. AVe are to tour Australia after leaving New Zealand, and then we are to return to Europe, via America. I am to appear early next year in America and in various European countries, including Italy. I have to fulfil an operatic engagement at La Scala, Alilan, the greatest opera house in the world, in the summer of next year.” Aliss Buckmau, who has been acclaimed as the foremost dramatic soprano in the English concert world, did remarkably good work in Australia with the Alelba Grand Opera Company, and she definitely sealed herself to opera by an engagement at Covent Garden, London, during the season of 1912, when she sang . the parts of Alusetta Camille in “Louise,” and the First Rliinemaidcn in the “Ring.” In 1915 she joined forces with Sir Thomas Beccliam; ami, it is not too much to say, was the chief of those artists, who, by essaying successfully the highest and most exacting parts, as in “Tannhauser” and “Tristan and Isolde,” enabled Sir Thomas Beccliam to make his company the standard of highest artistic (as well as financial) ach - evement in ■ England. So great became her popularity with the English musical world that her services .were demanded for musical events of all kinds throughout the country. Oratorio Festivals, Ballad Concerts, and Symphony Concerts everywhere were included in her engagement list, until tho name of Rosina Buckmau has come to be placed with those of such world-famed artists as Melba, Tetrazzini, Clara Butt, Ivreisler and Heifetz.

A TALENTED COMPANY. Throughout the New Zealand tour Aliss Buckman wid be accompanied by her husband, Air Maurice O’Oislcy, the distinguished English tenor, who also has won golden opinions in grand opera and in concerts in the Old Country; by Aliss Adelia Leon, the brilliant ’cellist; and by Air Percy Kalin, the talented pianist-composer, who toured 'New -Zealand in 1914 as accompanist to the great violinist Alischa Elman. The party leaves for Auckland tomorrow, and with it goes Airs Buckman, who will l eaf her daughter sing at her first return concert at tho Auckland Town Hall on Saturday night. After giving four concerts in Auckland, Aliss Buckman returns to Wellington, singing at four concerts in the AA’ellington Town Hall during the first week or so in June. Then she is to visit Palmerston North, and tho Hawke’s Bay and Taranaki districts, after which she will sing at Christchurch, Dunedin and other South IslaTicl centres, including, of course, her birthplace, Blenheim.