WAITER'S RISE TO FAME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20656, 30 August 1930, Page 3 (Supplement)

WAITER'S RISE TO FAME.

PARIS' NEW STAR TENOR. SUCCESS AT OPERA COMIQUE. The Opera Comique of Paris has a new " star " tenor in the. person of Jean Anzani, who not very long ago was a waiter in a restaurant and who never dreamed of taking music, seriously. But he loved music and he could not refrain from using his voice whenever opportunity came. Ho would sing in the kitchen, and his fellow-waiters soon persuaded him to sing at some of their smoking concerts and at other little festivals.

At one of these concerts Dr. Georges Clement chanced to hear Jean, with the result that early in December last the cafe waiter was invited to visit the directors of the Opera Comique and to sing one of his favourite airs. When asked if he knew anything about music lie confessed that ho did not. One of the directors replied " Excellent." When questioned in regard to the amount he needed to live 011 Anzani said that £l6 a month would suffice. The director thereupon remarked: "Then lay aside your waiter's apron to-morrow and enter the school of tho Opera Comique." Since then tho ex-waiter has studied and practised continuously under masters of his art—his only previous instructors were gramophone records —and a few weeks ago ho made his debut as Mario in "La Tosca."

The first act was a triumph for Anzani, but the conductor refused to give any encores so as not to tire the new singer. M ore demands for encores in the second act were also refused, but, in the third, amid a shower of flowers, the waiter tenor was allowed to respond to the cries of " 15is " from all parts of the house.