SMOKING AND SINGING

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11422, 19 January 1923, Page 4

SMOKING AND SINGING

DOBS THE WEED HARM THE VOICE?

A slave to the pipe for over 25 years, Mr Aubrey Standing, leading tenor of the Moody-Mannera and Italian Opera companies, dedares. that smoking has no effect whatever on the singing voice. This is in direct opposition to Sir Jaimes Cantlie’s statement that excessive smoking lowers the pitch of the voice. The soprano who smokes much, he said, will lose her high notes, the tenor will become a. baritone, and the bass a basso-profunde. SANTLEY’S EXAMIPLE. Mr Standing quotes the example of the late Sir Charles Santley, who was a heavy smoker, and yet was able to reach a good F sharp in recent years. To support his theory, Mr Standing haa written to the “Daily News” saying that he is willing to come to London and give a dramatic recital cf Charles Dickens’ “Christmas Card”' (two hours’ elocution), and then sing ten high-pitched operatic songs, the proceeds of the recital to he given in aid of any hospital. CARUSO A DEVOTEE. Caruso would have, been on the side of Mr Standing, for it is well-known that, in the words of one critic, “he used to smoke like a chimney“ at all times excepting just before his performance. On the other hand, Chaliapin a month or so ago broke off his cigarette habit, and said how mnoh better he was for it.

“It all depends on the man —or woman,” said Mr Frederic King, Profeasor at the Royal Academy of Music, to the “Daily News.” Personally, I shouldn’t smoke and sing, but a good many students and singers do combine both.

“All that anyone can say is that cigarette smoking haa the greatest danger,”