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New Zealand Tablet, 18 December 1913, Page 52

JOHN McCORMACK IRELAND’S FAMOUS TENOR. Never in the musical history of Australia has such, a’ sensation been created by any artist as by John McCormack dui'ng his recent tour of Australia. He has broken all records for attendances at concerts and the enthusiasm displayed. The Sydney press devoted much space to the extraordinary scenes which occurred at’. McCormack’s concerts. Altogether sixteen concerts were given in Sydney, and the Town Hall on each occasion was packed long before the commencement of the concerts, the police having to be called in to handle the enormous crowds of people who could not gain admission,' and at the conclusion of the concerts, even after the famous tenor had sung fifteen songs, the audiences would not leave the hall. Men grasped him by the hand, and women, old and young, clung to him and beseeched him to sing •* just once more.’ It was an unprecedented occurrence ,in Australia. . Following this remarkable tour, Messrs. J. and N. Tait have arranged a tour of New Zealand, which commences at Christchurch on December 20. The other principal towns of the Dominion will follow, and we have no doubt but that he will meet with the same success as he has done elsewhere. John McCormack is quite unlike lother tenors. He has a style and charm which is peculiarly his own, and whether it be an excerpt from grand opera or a simple Irish ballad he fascinates you. His singing inspires one. This young man (he is not yet thirty) has a striking personality; he is bubbling over with good humor, and he is a keen wit. To his audiences he is most liberal, and encore after encore is given with good-natured readiness, and it seems. just as pleasant for him to sing as it is for the audience to listen.