TE RANGI PAI

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1775, 14 March 1906, Page 42

TE RANGI PAI

A NE>W ZEALAND CONTRALTO.

Tlie experiences at Heme of r< Te Rangi Pai” (Mrs Howie), the well-known New°Zealand contralto, are interesting. This lady in the five or six years spent in the Old Country had a distinguished career upon the concert platform, and made many friends. Her public appearances were frequently made in the presence of royalty, and her exceptional vocal ability placed her in an enviable position. In the course of a brief chat with a, “Mail” representative, £< Te Rangi Pai” indicated clearly enough that her pleasant personality was not retained solely for the concert platform. “ After appearing in New Zealand,” she said, “ and after a tour of Australia, I was induced to go Home to study under Air Sant ley. This wa9 nearly six years ago. Acting under the advice of Sir Hubert Parry, I gave an opening concert at Queen’s Hall. Afterwards I appeared at all the great festivals at the 'Albert Hall and other celebrated halls. I sang at the Coronation Festival, a most important event, of course, when Ganz conducted. I have been associated on the platform with all the leading singers, save Clara Putt. She, being a deep contralto also, I never sang with. I have sung, however, with Ada Crossley, Watkin Mills, Eva Foster, and so Dn. I sang in Ireland and Scotland, as .well as in many parts of England. “ I think one of the most interesting episodes in my London experience was when I sang at an entertainment given by the Children’s Protection League. I was on the committee of the league, and was specially asked to sing for the tableau provided by Queen Alexandra, and arranged by Lady Henry Somerset. I sang ‘The Children of the City,’ and a number of children gathered from the East End slums formed the tableau. It was quite a special thing that I should be chosen for this, and, of bourse, very gratifying. All the principal Court ladies arranged tableaux flrom pictures by Royal Academy artists, who also assisted in the arrangements. “My first actual concert in England was at Liverpool, where I appeared "with Lady Haile, Muriel Foster, Santley, and others. At the last Irish Festival at the Albert Hall, by the way, I sang by order of the Queen a new version of * Wearin’ of the Green ’ —a loyal setting of the song—the words being by Miss Isabel Sullivan, daughter of Admiral (Shillivan. The latter came all the way from Paris to hear me sing this. At the 1902 Irish Festival I sang with •Madame Belle Cole at what proved to be her last appearance. I was the hist to give a concert in London solely contributed to by New Zealand artists. My first was of this type, and also a recital I gave at the Steinway Hall. Amongst the performers at the latter were Miss Bello Napier (the reciter), Mr Victor Raoth (now showing great promise at the Royal Academy of Music), and Mr (A. L. Edwards (a tenor), formerly of ’'Auckland. This all goes to show, you see, that New Zealanders are taking a prominent part in music m the Uict Country.” J'*’ . ”Te Rangi Pai” went on To relate how that, on the night the neivs of her mother’s death reached London, eie was singing at a festival at Nmg Lynn, in the presence of the Erng. “I travelled down,” she said, with the other artistes, and I noticed that, strange to say, every paper .hey gave me to read had a piece torn off. Ihey were keeping the news hack for tear of unnerving me. When I sang On, Rest in the Lord’ that night the audie&oe seemed very much overcome. They knew what'l did not then know. 'I pnly found out next day that my mother was dead, and I did not sing for a long while after that. “The Landgrave of Hesse, - a cousin of the Queen’s, was, by the way, very oharmed with the Maori folk-songs I ttsed to sing. He told me they reminded him of the music of his own people. ‘Home, Sweet Home’ in the. Maori language always captivated the English people. I shall include it in my Wellington programme.” This subject of Maori music is a very [interesting one, and, opinions regarding It being a good deal divided, our representative asked “Te Rangi Pai” at fchis stage whether she considered there ie a future for it at .Home. Her reply was very emphatic. ; ■ “I do, indeed,” she Ijjaicks “I think they: must: turn this why lfb provide some new atmosphere for comic opera at Homo. For instance, if:: Mr Alfred Hill’s ‘Tapu’ were there, I am sure it .would ho a success—a great hit- You see, there has been nothing of the kind. They have had Japan and a host of other countries for their locales, the Indians at Earl’s Court, and the‘coons’ from America. Why. the Maoris gave a haka at the opening of one of my concerts, as a welcome to Mr Seddon, and I never saw people get so excited in my life. Some made a rush to the doors, thinking the Maoris were mad! The Princess of Wales was rtny interested. Talking of Maoris, tins troupe was going along one day, near Buckingham Palace, when one urchin said to another, • ‘Who’s them?’ ‘Them, replied the second one, ‘Oh, them’s from the Cannibal Islands!’ ”

It is “Te Rangi Pai’s” intention to give as many concerts in Australasia as possible in a short stay. She is in New Zealand partly upon private business, and cannot prolong her visit, being due back in London for next season, where several engagements await her, after fulfilling those in Sydney and Melbourne.