WIDE FIELD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 10 January 1936, Page 6

WIDE FIELD

DEMAND FOR GOOD VOICES NEW ZEALAND TALENT The suggestion that the incentive to study music is being gradually destroyed by the talking film and the radio is contradicted by Mr Roland Foster, F.G.S.M., Professor of Singing and principal of the Opera. School at the Now South Wales Conservatorium of Music, who is at present in Wellington gtates “The Post” Mr Foster said that both the talking film and the radio had opened a wide field for the professional singer, and there was a. great demand for good voices both in the motion picture and broadcasting studios. Mr Foster's present visit is made under contract to the Broadcasting Board, which has engaged him to give two addresses from each of the four YA stations.

Mr Foster expressed a high opinion of New Zealand vocal talent, and said that lie hoped to have an opportunity of hearing young singers with a view to discovering any who may have prospects of a successful professional career. Some of his most capable pupils were New Zealanders, be said, and referred to the case of Miss Merle Miller, a young singer whom be discovered on his last visit to Wellington. Miss Miller, after a course of study at the New South Whiles Conservatorium, is now distinguishing herself on the London platform and in grand opera. Another New Zealand singer who lias made great headway in Australia, he said, was Miss Ruth Scott, an Auckland soprano. Australian singers now doing well abroad, who would be remembered by New Zealanders, included Miss Essie Ackland, who toured the Dominion with Gene Gcrardy, Miss Ethel Osborn, who sang before the principal choral societies, and Miss Rosa Alba, who was here with Mr Verbrugglicu’s orchestra. "'ln spite of the severe competition which exists in the vocal world of to-day,” said Mr Foster, “opportunities and rewards as great, or even greater, than in the past are awaiting singers as yet undeveloped and unknown. The films have opened up a new avenue to fame, as witness the eases of Grace A too re, Nelson Eddy, and Jan Kiepura. But there must be natural qualifications of a high order plus training and experience.” Mr Foster said that he believed the modern musical film would replace grand opera. The famous grand operas dealt with events of the past that did not appeal to the average audience, while the musical films could. present the best of music in conjunction with a story that had a modern appeal