ANGRY CONCERT SINGER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18051, 27 September 1920, Page 6

ANGRY CONCERT SINGER

JOHN M'CORMACK CANCELS ADELAIDE FIXTURE.

(Feom Ode Own Correspondent.) . SYDNEY, September 15. Bver since tho 'world-famous tenor, John M-Gormack, landed here from America a couple of months ago, there havo been ii 3 c ' about him, generally to the effect that his sympathies are more Sum Fern than British. Mr M'Cormack js an American, of Irish .birtb and it is indicative of the state of sectarian feeling that the stories about him were given credence, and some embarrassing incidents occurred. The ultra-loyalirts, S in several places wrote the tenor insulting lettersand the fact that he had not *«,*„ the National Anthem was taken as ovfe gainst him Mr M'Cormack met X stones by referring to them publicly as so much balderdash, pointed out that he wS oidy expected to sing the National An\hem when Vice-Royalty were present, and S founded his critics by smging U, e ajlthora at one of his concerts. But the stories alleging Smn Fein sympathies followed h"m across the continent. In Melbourne tho Governor being present at a concert, the tenor sang the Nation?? Anthem. Immediately he deluged msultm* letters "One section of % cot respondents," fe id> «; n(raircjd ? h ™ had dared to insult the national son-' Another section complained that my sing^ £ ' had Then tho badgered tenor went on to Adelaide to give four concerts-on Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday |o gave'three . concerts, the third being last « I,B **;. Affcer that <***«* a section of the audience rose, and sang "God Save the King." No significance wa iached to the mederrt, and the newspapers made no reference to it. But tho simrer considered that ho had suffered a studied J t il 1 f e ,, d,<1 . 1 Ttofc sleo - D dl1 ™* the night and the following day (last Friday) he ££ celled his fourth concert and returned to JMeicowmc. " Various ambers of tho community here said Mr M'Cormaek, before leaving. Adelaide, have been violently antagonistic (x> mo on account of my American citizenship and are determined to make my y - !I Lr 1? at 7 - as as possible, rharr efforts culminated last evening at the conehision of my recital when, without anv warning whatever, they sang the National Anthem. They wore not. I fool sure inspired by any patriotic motive, bnt only by 'fu ffi *P e "rtrarruss me by insinuating that I hod refused to smg- it. It is wellIcnown that tho Anthem is ro>vrr performed at recitaLs extent when Vice-Royalty is present, and t.hon not always. There is nothing left for mo to do. as an artist with some self-respect, oxoopt to cancel mv concert. 1 do so with a heavy hoort. 'I am very proud to bo an American citizen— as proud' as I am to have been born in Ireland."