CHRISTCHURCH SINGER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 14332, 28 March 1907, Page 9

CHRISTCHURCH SINGER.

NEWS OP MISS MAGGIE WELLS. (By TEMPO in " Canterbury Times.") It is always a pleasure to chronicle news of'rising-young artists' of this colony, the more so when the student belongs to one's own province. It was, then, with feelings of something specially interesting that I was last week privileged to have a chat with Mrs Wells (mother of Miss Maggie Wells, of Christchurch), who has iust returned from England, where she lias spent four years in furthering her daughter's musical studies. It will be remembered that Miss Maggie Wells was advised by Madame Dolores to go Home to have her voice properly developed. Miss Maggie Wells, as I remember her four years ago, was a most gifted young singer, possessing a contralto voice of surprising quality, displaying a temperament quite exceptional in one so young, and having a personal charm of manner and stage appearance which few can claim. To be Ijrief, Miss Wells was a musical bud which promised to blossom into "a beautiful flower. But one can readily enough understand that, as with the delicate bud, caa-e is required in development. Fortunately Miss Maggie Wells found her best friend in her mother, and that lady, realising her daughter's undoubted talent, has set to work in the right way, with the result that Miss Maggie .is likely to become a singer of worldwide repute. This is on the authority of artists of the highest standing— Madame Dolores, Mr Santley and jVI. Wartel, a leading Parisian music master, who is at present giving the finishing touches to the voice of the Christchurch cantatrice.

At the outset of our conversation Mrs Wells remarked that parents should be careful in sending their children Home to study for the musical profession. "There are," said Mrs Wells, " so many ways in which a promising career may bo spoiled. For instance, a vocalist, having spent a large sum of money and attained a high standard of efficiency, may accept some tempting offer to ising at places onteide of the recognised artistic circle, and find later, to his or her astonishment, that making a debut outeide t-ho centre may mean that the young artist is ostracised from the classic circle." There are other ways too, in which the inexperienced may make mistakes which will prejudice their chances, no matter how good the voice. "For be it remembered," continued Mrs Wells, " that in London and Paris arc to be found hundreds of young people from British dependencies who are seeking to make their way in the musical profession. So that one cannot be too careful, and as the best masters must be sought out, so the best fields for future work must be a paramount consideration. I took my daughter first to Mr Santloy, and she has been under his tutelage most of the time, studying long and earnestly. Mr Santley gives great attention to tone production by means of oratorical singing. Ballads, too, are favoured by him, and my daughter has now a large repertoiro of these to select from—songs learned entirely under Mr Santley's direction. Sho has also studied under M. Wartel, of Paris, my particular desire being to have my daughter undergo a course in opera. I had some difficulty. in getting

her under M. Wartel'u tutoring - for he has 6o many artists in. hi# i school, and these who are anxious toe -. get there have to" wait their turn. Howv ever, by the good intercession of Madame Dolores, who has been to us a real and true friend, M. Wart-el consented to give_ my daughter a trial. I was naturally anxious to hear the re- - suit of bio first impression of heofi - singing. Happity, he was quite pleased, and in. taking my daughter as a pupil he expressed the opinion that she f would become a leading vocalist. Sincd then M. Wartel has stated that Maggi<t should make a high-class operatic arti ist, and, as my daughter would like t<fi excel in that branch of the profession, she may, on M. Wartel's advice, eventually appear in opera." Questioning Mrs Wells about hep daughter's voice, I learned that Miss Maggie has developed into a full-toned - contralto with a good range, from G in; the contralto register to B-flat of the soprano. Mrs Wells further stated that some authorities would have it that her daughter's voice was really a mezzo-soprano, but others, including; her masters pronounoe Miss Maggie to be a contralto.

" Miss Maggie's voice has gained in richness," continued Mrs Wells, "and in flexibility; but it is hardly necessary for me to say these things. Any girl who, possessing the required qualifications, chooses to work hard for a few years can accomplish much which would be surprising to their colonial friends. The main point is not to be in a hurry in making one's debut. You will remember how Miss Amy Castlea hurriedly entered the arena and after- - wards resumed her studies. But for possessing so remarkable a voice Miss Castles might have done herself incalculable harm in making her debut so soon. This is the principal reason why Miss Maggie has not yet been heard. When her master says that her musical - education is quite complete then, and." not till then, will she place herself before the critics." .' "-

I remarked on the great expense in . ' giving anyone a higher-class training, . ■ and Mrs Wells had much to say on this ' particular point, not in the direction of stating what had been spent on her, ;;, daughter, but in the interests of thoso . who wish to go Home to study. "For a three-years' course a student should -- have £IOOO to work upon," said Mrs ""' Wells. " One does not require to go out* •; side of London to seek masters, except' „ ~ perhaps in a special line such as M. - Wartel is the leading authority on. The i expense of study in Paris is necessarily •"'; increased, but we were very happy there, for we became associated with ; some English ladies in a kind of Young . Women's Christian Association, and w« felt not altogether like strangers. Then '; M. and Madame Wartel were also very kind to us, and they really do all in '. their power to help on their pupils. Of course, as they accept only those pos- f sessed of certain ability their work ia <■ lightened and interest increased —a xa- ~™ ther happy combination. Miss Maggie . is now in Paris, and her studies are . nearly complete. It may not be long ■ now before my daughter is given per- ■ mission to make her debut. I should . have been pleased to remain at JUoma until that time, but illness in our family was the cause of my return. . Was it not strange that I should arrive back in Christchurch four years . to the very day that I left it with .; Miss Maggie." .-?] Mrs Wells related many of her ex- - ; I periences, such as the meeting in Paris - with Mr Pro Use, the Wellington voca- ;_ list, of the occasions en which she had „" heard the leading artists of England— : with special reference to Madame Clara J. Butt, whose voice Mrs Wells describes \ as being more Hfeo the organ than human m quality ft voice such as no woman has. prober? ever been blessed . •with—and her td» i«fc to New Zealand in the Turakina, r*-hich vessel picked up . a castaway crew on the bleak Crozet islands, in conclusion Mrs Wells said that she believed that-". Miss Maggie would succeed in her profession, and ■ would, as her masters state, occupy a , really good position amongst vocalists. . Whether she would visit the colonies in the near future it was impossible to s.ayyet. But Mrs Wells kindly promised to give me definite information as to her daughter's movements later on. I am sure it will be pleasing to tho citizens of Christchurch to learn that one of their young people is doing w> well. New Zealand has, so far, been -" behind Australia in producing goad voices, but I really believe it is oppor- . tunity more than anything else that is wanted in this colony. Australian girls fet better support than those of i New ealand. It is Victorian young ladies who have done so exceptionally well. - Is this not due to tho good work of tho South Street Society at Ballarat? In . any case the competitions promoted by that Society have been the means o£ bringing to light many a vocal and. other musical gem. Such societies ara. wanted in this colony. At present Dun-. ediu is the only city that has attempted to follow Ballarat. Christchurch should make a move in this direction, and in, time New Zealand might be ablp to claim more vocalists of tho calibro'of Miss Maggie Wells. __^