MADAME LOTTE LEHMANN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23829, 8 June 1939, Page 8

MADAME LOTTE LEHMANN

ARRIVAL FOR TOUR “HIGH PRIESTESS OF A GREAT ART” <Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 7. Madame Lotte Lehmann arrived by the Wanganella to-day to give a series of concerts In New Zealand. Interviewed at her hotel, Madame Lehmann said that she always reacted to the mood of her audience. She expressed the hope that New Zealand audiences would like her singing and show their feelings unmistakably. Some neople thought that to look for warmth in an audience was a form of vanity, but in reality it was the opposite. If an audience was cold she immediately felt there was something wrong with her singing. She did not blame the audience; on the other hand, if the audience liked her singing she felt she must give all she possibly could. Mr Paul Alanowsky, her accompanist, who was present, supported this view. Madame Lehmann also explained that she was not singing for critics or solely for the high-brows and the musically educated. She knew she was a high priestess of a great art, and she believed it to be her duty to make use of her art and give enjoyment to as wide a section of the people as she could. CONCERT AT TOWN HALL Lotte Lehmann, affectionately known to her countless admirers as “ geliebte Lehmann.” was born at a little town called Perleberg on the North Sea. After leaving school Madam Lehmann made application for admission to the State Conservatorium with the idea of starting her career as a singer, but after an audition she was told that it was no use pursuing this course as she had no “ concert voice.” Her mind was made up, however, she continued her studies with Madam Mathilde Mallinger, a celebrated Wagnerian singer from whom she received every help and encouragement and by dint of sheer forcefulness eventually secured minor operatic roles at the Hamburg Opera House. Her first success came when she was called upon, at a moment’s notice, to take the place, through illness, of the leading soprano in the role of " Elsa ” in “ Lohengrin.” From that time she never looked back and success followed success in quick succession. She secured engagements at 1 all the principal opera houses in Europe, and having been heard by Richard Strauss, was selected by him to play leading roles in his operas. Strauss’s opera “Arabella ” was written specially for Madam Lehmann. Not only is Madam Lehmann a famous operatic artist, but as a Lieder singer her fame is such that she is considered one of the greatest exponents of the Art. Song. . Her appearance and her exquisite vocal art should leave an indelible impression in the minds of Dunedin concertgoers. She appears at the Main Town Hall on Thursday next. One of the proudest moments in Madam Lehmann’s life was when the French Foreign Minister presented her with the insignia of an Officer of the French Legion of Honour at Salsburg before madam became an American citizen. This honour was conferred unon her in recognition of her musical standing in Old Austria. Associated v/ith Lotte Lehmann during this tour will be Paul Ulanowsky, solo pianist and accompanist. Plans will open at the D.I.C. to-morrow morning.