INTERVIEW WITH MRS. ARTHUR BOULT.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXII, Issue VI, 11 February 1899, Page 175

INTERVIEW WITH MRS. ARTHUR BOULT.

Musical circles in Auckland have been very much interested in the arrival in their city of Mrs Boult, wife of Mr Arthur Boult, who has been for

some time engaged in teaching voice production and singing in Auckland. Mrs Boult took the interview quite as a matter of course ; her position, musically, in Adelaide, having naturally made her well-known, popular, and subject, therefore, to these lit tie journalistic incursions into her domestic privacy. She is a thorough lady, with a marvellously clear enunciation. petite, with a grand forehead, blue grey eyes, and a (‘harming manner.

Mrs Boult remarked on the general absence of ‘twang’ in New Zealanders, and said she thought many of the voices would be easy to train. ‘ Indeed.’ she added, ‘there are many people who have latent talent of which they are not at all aware. Once arouse their musical enthusiasm, and they will display a genius for work, and attain a success which will surprise themselves and delight their friends.'

Mr Boult here suggested that he thought the absence of the Australian twang in this colony was due to the musical tone of the Maoris in a certain degree, which had its intiuence on the Europeans. He also cleverly explained how the voice was produced in the mouth, and how, therefore, it could be immensely improved by anyone who understood its wonderful

mechanism. ‘You will find,’ commented Mrs Boult, ‘that people who sing usually have a very much pleasanter voice in conversation than people who have not studied this art.’ ‘ What is your system of teaching, Mrs Boult *?' ‘ Mine is.' she said, ‘ I understand, quite new in this colony. It is entirely German. I use the books which are employed in the great conservatoriuins in Germany, also now in Melbourne and Adelaide.' ‘ May 1 ask what these books are ?' ‘ Most certainly. They are two : “Advanced Germer" for elder pupils, and “Elementary Germer " for younger pupils. 1 have just been making arrangements for a large supply of these books in Auckland, for,' she added, laughing. ‘ I hope to have very soon, almost as great a number of students at my classes as 1 had in Adelaide.’ Mrs Boult here supplied some startling figures, which caused her interviewer to exclaim that sin* must have made a great sacrifice in leaving such a connection. ‘ It was absolutely necessary, on account of Mr Boult’s health, unless, indeed, we had been content to live apart.' This arrangement, it was evident, would not suit Mr and Mrs Boult. They have been fortunate enough to secure more rooms in Hie A.MJ’. Buildings, where* Mr Boult has l»een located since his arrival, and where they are pretty nearly ready to receive visitors. Mrs Boult says she has a very keen and pleasant recollection of tiie hospitality of Aucklanders whilst she was over for seven weeks last summer. ‘I need hardly ask if you will kd the heat in Queen Street ?' ‘ Well. no. I did not even mind our maximum in the shade. 10« s deg. In the sun it was 163 deg. in Adelaide. Then, of course, we had a very large house, with every appliance* for warding off the sun's rays.' Mrs Boult then explained a few of their hopes in regard to music in Auckland. Both she and her husband an* intensely enthusiastic in their profession, and trust some da.\ to see Auckland on a par with the Australian cities as regards opportunities for developing and encouraging musical talent.