GIGLI’S FEE

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 July 1934, Page 12

GIGLI’S FEE

COVENT GARDEN OFFER

LONDON, May 30

Beniamino Gigli, the world-famous tenor, who arrived in London during the week-end,, wants to-..sing in. Covent Garden opera, but cannot come io terms.

“I. am dying- to’ sing in your great English opera season, but I cannot come to terms with the management,” he said yesterday: “Two years ago I was paid £350 for one performance at Covent - Garden. When I was asked to sing again this season I said I would sing at the same .teims, although that would adversely affect me.because of the altered rates of exchange. They said, ‘you want to buy the house.’ And that is where it stands.

“I cannot afford to sing for less than £350. lam not a. parish hall singer. I am a recognised international artist. “I think I am worth more than £350 for a performance. I have built up a great British public. The first'time I appeared at the Albert Hall there was £BOO in the house, the second time £l2OO, and -the third time £l4OO. '“I tore up a humiliating contract with the great Metropolitan Opera House, New York. An artist of international repute must not be Juuuiliated. It may affect his market value.”

ITALIAN. ENTJIUSIASM

LONDON, May 31. It was Italy’s night nt the Albert Hall last night. Beniamino Gigli, the famous Italian tenor, who earns a year, was singing (here. Nearly the whole of London’s Italian colony seemed io haveturned out- to greet him.

They formed by far (he larger part of the 6000 who had crowded into the Albert Hall. Their cheering and Shouting began as soon as Gigli appeared, and it rose to crescendo as the evening advanced. Gigli was held up for some minutes by the applause that broke out when he came on the platform. Whenever the accompanist played over a familiar air the audience burst into anticipatory cheers,.

Gigli was due to sing ten items.- By the time the evening was over he had sung twice as many at the audience’s demand. When he left he was mobbed both inside and outside the hall. Several autograph hunters travelled for some d'stance on the running board of his car as be was driven awav.