PAID IN GOODS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18661, 22 March 1935, Page 5

PAID IN GOODS

IN RUSSIA AND GERMANY FAMOUS ARTISTS SYDNEY, March 15. Mr Leo Darnton, the well-known singer, who returned' to Sydney by the Orsova after an absence of two years, on the Continent, said that great artists were not paid salaries for their work in Russia or Germany. Instead, they were given carpets, skins, or other goods that could be disposed of. by the country's agents in foreign countries. Russian roubles had no value outside of Russia, but Hitler would not allow money to be taken out of Germany, said Mr Darnton. Chaliapin was recently paid in valuable carpets for plaving in opera in Germany, and Fritz Kreisler and Benno Moiseiwitch received expensive skins, furs,' and, in some instances, jewels, for their appearance in Russia. Mr Darnton said that London was getting the world's most famous .artists at considerably reduced fees because of the restricted field on tin Continent. Talking pictures were not interfering with the musical traditions of the people on the Continent, but the people were giving more encouragement to local artists in grand opera and musical work instead of inviting famous artists from other countries °to perform grand opera work.