LAWRENCE TIBBETT HAS, LEAD IN “ ROGUE SONG.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19240, 29 November 1930, Page 32 (Supplement)

LAWRENCE TIBBETT HAS, LEAD IN “ ROGUE SONG.”

Lawrence Tibbett. who is to star in I •‘The Rogue Song.” has hacl. although a comparatively young man. a remark- I able career, which has landed him in the , front rank of the operatic world. A Californian by birth, he was educated in Los Angeles. Tyrone Power, the well-known tragedian, announced a week of scenes from Shakespeare at the Mason Opera House in Los Angeles earlv in 1916. Mr Sydney Iloben. now of Christchurch, was in charge of the music and orchestra. Mr Power, haying his own theatrical company, only required one extra. This extra was young Tibbett, who entered into the spirit of what he had to do with whole-hearted enthusiasm. Next year America entered the war, and Tibbett joined the Navy. When the Armistice came he returned to shore and married. He impressed the manager of the great Metropolitan Opera House, New York, Signor GattiGasazza. with his worth, and he appeared creditably during 1922 in such small but important parts as Silvio and was given the part of Ford in Verdi's ” Falstaff,” which has a highly effective vocal scene ending an act. So splendidly did the young baritone do this that he “brought down the house.” The audience refused to allow the conductor to start the next scene till Tibbett again came before the great gold curtain to acknowledge their enthusiasm. Next morning, every New York paper featured the success on its front page. Lawrence Tibbett was made, provided he could continue successfully. He could, and did. In addition to his fine singing he has remarkable acting powers. That he would be a success in the talkies was a foregone conclusion. The season of “ The Rogue Song ” opens at the Theatre Iloyal matinee to-day.