COVENT GARDEN ROMANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21254, 6 August 1932, Page 3 (Supplement)

COVENT GARDEN ROMANCE

CONDUCTOR WEDS SINGER The marriage of Mr. John Barbirolli, the brilliant Covent Garden conductor, to Miss Marjorie Parry, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Parry, of Saltford, Somerset, took place at Bath on Jnne 18. The conple met some years ago as members of the British National Opera Company, while Mr. Barbirolli was fighting his way from being an alnjost unknown mnsician to the front rank as a conductor, Miss Parry was climbing from the chorus into a prima donna. Mr. Barbirolli has been musical director and conductor in Covent (garden Opera since 1929, when he was 29 years old. Son of an Italian violinist and a French mother, Mr. Barbirolli was born in London. His first public appearance was as a violincello solist at Queen's Hall when he was only 12. Later he toured the British Isles and Europe as a member of the International String Quartette, it was after founding and conducting the Barbirolli Chamber Orchestra in 1925 that he joined the British National Opera Company. He conducted concerts for most of the leading musical organisations, and then went to Covent Garden. . . .. Mr. Barbirolli gained the distinction of being the youngest Englishman who has over conducted international opera.