Melbourne’s Singing Barber

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 124, 29 May 1944, Page 3

Melbourne’s Singing Barber

Joseph Sclicpsi, siuging barber, said lecently that probably 2000 people paid £4 4s each to hear him sing at liis Town Hall concert. Schepsi, a woman’s hairdresser in Praliran, also charges £4 4s .for the “Schepsi cut.” The reremainder of hi 3 audience' of about •;000 —mostly nurses and members of Australian, and Allied forces and of social clubs—were admitted free. A largo crowd gathered outside the hail to seo how many people would pay £4 4s to hoar this unknown tenor. His audience gave him a very hearty reception. The musical critic of one newspaper said: “Caught young, tones which are still by no means unpleasant if by chance they aro properly emitted, would have given Joseph Schepsi a. small niche among the lyric tenors of opera, but his three arias at the concert were not the only contributions which found him seriously at fault. In a Schubert; group, the ‘Serenade’ was acceptable. ‘Hark, Hark, the Lark,’ was sung in u schoolboy staccato.” Another critic said Schepsi had a fair course to run before attaining the zenith of fame. Schepsi said he intended to hold a concert in Sydney, although ho has made no plans yet. Futuro concerts, however, would be at “popular” prices, probably £1 Is and 10/G.