MAORI Hannah Tatana, mezzo contralto, with Dave Tatana, guitar.

Te Ao Hou, September 1966, Page 62

MAORI Hannah Tatana, mezzo contralto, with Dave Tatana, guitar. Viking VP-173 12in 33½ LP Pride of place in this review goes to a delightful recording by Viking which features Hannah Tatana singing a selection of popular Maori songs. Miss Tatana has been somewhat over-shadowed in recent years by the meteoric rise to fame of Kiri Te Kanawa. This is a pity, for Miss Tatana is a fine singer with a notable record of success in national competitions in this country and in Australia. She has also had a number of professional appearances with the NZBC Symphony and Concert Orchestras as well as having made extensive recital tours throughout New Zealand. Her theatrical experience includes chorus work in several productions, understudy and alternate to the principal soloist in the NZ Opera Company's production of Carmen and the principal roles in Vaughan William's The Poisoned Kiss and the Opera Company's recent Porgy and Bess. In this record Miss Tatana sings with appealing simplicity many of the vintage songs of Maoridom and several Sam Freedman numbers. There is no striving for effect or sophisticated arrangements. Some of the songs have been double recorded so that Miss Tatana sings duets with herself. The purist may deprecate such fakery but the effect is pleasing and the result is a further demonstration of the range and versatility of Hannah Tatana's voice. The review would not be complete without a few words of commendation for the guitar accompaniments by Miss Tatana's brother. Dave. Each accompaniment is a gem in itself. The record should be required listening for all aspiring players of guitar accompaniments. Dave Tatana's playing produces a wonderful fusion of voice and guitar with each being completely complimentary to the other.