GRAND OPERA IN FILMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23111, 9 August 1938, Page 11

GRAND OPERA IN FILMS

THE BOX OFFICE TEST MR. LAWRENCE TIBBETT'S VIEWS [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Monday The noted singer Mr. Lawrence Tibbett, who arrived by the Awatea this morning, stated in an interview that during his successful tour of Australia he had received offers to make a return visit in 19-10. It was too early to commit himself yet, but it was quite possible that he would come back and include New Zealand in that tour. It was his firm intention next time he visited New Zealand to mix holiday with work, said Mr. Tibbett. The holiday and tourist attractions of New Zealand wqro far more widely known in the United States than were those of Australia. Although the art of opera was not indigenous, to the English-speaking races, they liked good music: as much as any other race, and he thought grand opera was making steady progress in English-speaking countries. If grand opera was popularised through the talkies it would show it was on its merit, because of box office necessities. Mr. Tibbett said be had had an offer from a big producing firm to make "The Desert Song" 'in technicolour. He might or might not accept it,, but if he did he had first to complete the season, and the opera season would keep him occupied until next May in the United States. Questioned about screen work, he said that actually these things were only incidental in his career. He had received all his fundamental training as an opera and concert einger,