FROM COAL MINE TO OPERA

New Zealand Tablet, 17 October 1918, Page 7

FROM COAL MINE TO OPERA

There is romance in the story of Thomas Burke, a young Irish tenor who has won operatic laurels in Italy. Burke was brought up as a miner in a Lancashire coalpit. As a lad he sang in the choir of the Catholic church near his home, and there received the rudiments of a musical education. Just before the war he was brought to London, and was "discovered" by a well-to-do tradesman in the Bond Street district. "A few months before the commencement of hostilities," he said, "I heard Mr. Burke singing at a concert in London. I had already known of him in Lancashire. After hearing him in London I felt more than ever convinced that he had a great future before him, provided he were given opportunities of further study. I learned that he had left Leigh in Lancashire and come to London on the understanding that he was to be sent abroad to be trained. This project had fallen through, so I decided to undertake the responsibility for his musical education myself. I sent Mr. Burke to Italy in November, 1914, and he has more than justified my wildest dreams. In February of this year he made his debut in Milan, where he scored an instantaneous success. Since then he has appeared at Naples and Palermo in 'Cavalleria Rusticana' and 'Rigoletto.' The Italian public has taken him to its heart. He has been offered great financial inducements to remain, but he felt that he must come home. lie intends, in spite of being in a. low medical category, to place himself at the disposal of the National Service authorities. However, as one of the fust 'duties' he will travel to Leigh and sing at a big concert for the local Bed Cross fund and other charities, He also wants to raise money for the Red Cross in London,- and for the Comforts Fund of the Irish regiments."