COSSACK AND SINGER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21882, 18 August 1934, Page 14

COSSACK AND SINGER

A COLOURFUL CAREER M. CH OSTI AKOFF'S LIFE •UNDER ARMS AS A BOY A life of' strange contrasts has been experienced by M. Sen in Chostiakoft, the brilliant Russian tenor, who is now in Now Zealand under contract to the Broadcasting Board. At the age of 15 he was shot by Germans near the frontiers of his country and between 16 and 22 he took part in the confused warfare that raged on Russia's borders, at first serving against the Germans, and later fighting as a Cossack in the White Army against the Bolshevists. At 22 ho was labouring with apparently no prospects in a French coal mine, yet only a few years later he sang before His Majesty the King at Windsor, and became internationally known as tenor soloist in the Don Cossacks Choir. All his life he has been interested in music. The son of a well-to-do family living near Moscow, he received a certain amount of musical training and while a boy was leading alto singer in one of the great Moscow churches. Russia was plunged into the world war when the lad was in his early teens and in the tragedy that broke over the Russian army the boy became involved.

After the collapse of the White Army in 1921, Chostiakoff was sent to Paris and there he had to sign a six months' contract for labour in the coal mines with a gang comprising Moroccans, negroes and ex-criminals. By perseveranco he was at last able to bring himself under the attention of the musical director of a Paris cathedral, and a wealthy patron offered to pay his expenses while training at the Conservatorium. In 1925 came his great chance with the offer of the post of tenor soloist to the Don Cossacks Choir.

Years of travelling around the world followed, with engagements to sing at all the leading theatres and before many of the world's rulers. Then, in 1928, ho decided to leave the choir, become a naturalised British citizen and settle in Australia. Many years of theatre engagements and radio broadcasting work have resulted. He will be heard in Auckland at a concert to be given in the Town Hall next Wednesday evening in aid of the Mayor's unemployment fund.