BRITISH STARS IN OPERA.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 29 April 1927, Page 9

BRITISH STARS IN OPERA.

Covent Garden Season. MANAGEMENT’S REPLY TO CRITICS. By Cable—Pres* Association—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. Received April 28, 5.15 p.m. LONDON, April 28. The management of the Covent Garden Opera House has written to the Press pointing out that there are eighteen British artists singing important roles at the forthcoming season. The management points out that operatic artists’ contracts are usually printed in the language of the opera in which they are appearing. (A cable message published yesterday reported that Miss Katharine Arkands, who first won fame in “The Beggar’s Opera,” is the only British star appearing at the forthcoming opera season at Covent Garden, though British singers are filling a number of minor roles. Miss Arkands, interviewed by the “Daily Express,” said: “I am not only the sole British singer filling a leading role, but when I looked at -the contract, I found it was in German. Imagine that—a German contract offered to a British singer to appear in a British opera house!” The “Daily Express” editorially said: “The subscription list for Covent Garden is practically full. So much for British support for opera. What about grand opera's support for British singers and conductors?” Among others mentioned the paper says that Miss Florence Austral should be given a chance in senior opera as she has one of tthe great voices in the world.)