Oscar Natzke

New Zealand is home to Oscar Natzke, who has returned, to his native land, after a successful season as leading "bass singer at the Covent Garden Opera House. As a boy, Oscar worked hard on a farm, and later in a blacksmith's shop, with little time for schooling. Meanwhile, his voice had broken and developed into a basso-profundo of astonishing sonority and power. Then his wonderful chance came - and he went to Trinity College of Music, London, where he worked harder still. In three years he made his debut in opera, the youngest bass ever to sing at historic Covent Garden. In an interview with Salient's representative, Mr. Natzke recounted some of the lesser known of his experiences - a story as strange and romantic as any Salient has heard.

A Family Tradition.

Oscar's father was a Russian, who came to New Zealand in the early eighties to seek his fortune, and the lad was certainly born into the right environment, for music had always been in the family. His mother was a concert singer who would have achieved fame overseas, but for a father who believed a woman's place to be the home. A paternal great grandmother had been a celebrated Russian soprano, while father Natzke delighted in playing wind instruments.

The Singing Smithy!

With the depression in New Zealand came a drastic change in the affairs of the Natzke family. A short time after the farm had been given up. Oscar's father died, and so the lad of fifteen became a breadwinner. At Freeman's Bay, Auckland, where the masts of scores of careened ships slant skyward, there was a blacksmith shop, where the forge burnt brightly all day, and there was no lack of horses to be shod. At first swinging at a 141b. hammer was almost too much for him, but he admits it was the means of developing his tremendous lungpower. One of the first calls he paid on returning to Auckland was to his old employer to whom he was apprenticed.

When his voice had broken, it developed into a basso profundo of great power. Realising her son had an exceptional voice, Mrs. Natzke encouraged him to sing at local concerts. Galli-Curci was in New Zealand at this time with her husband and accompanist, Homer Samuels.

"Homer Samuels said he would hear me sing", stated Oscar Natzke, "so, trembling with excitement, I went to Lewis Eady Hall for the audition. Homer Samuels sat at a piano on the floor level, while not far from him my mother, very anxious, occupied a front seat in the auditorium. In somewhat shabby best clothes, I stood on the platform. I remember Mr. Samuels looked a trifle bored - with the first note my nervousness left me". Afterwards Mr. Samuels said that Natzke's voice, with its unusual quality and range, was one ideally suited to grand opera. The opinion was worth having, but it didn't move Natzke a step nearer Europe. His mother tried again. John Brownlee, Australian baritone, was so impressed that he gave many free lessons.

He had to go overseas. The family's financial embarrassments made such an ambition seem impossible, but it was then that -

Anderson Tyrer Makes A Discovery.

Now back again in New Zealand, Anderson Tyrer, English pianist and composer, is well known here as conductor of Mr. Natzke's recitals. But our story goes back to 1934 when Mr. Tyrer was visiting Auckland.

"Having been requested to hear a young singer", said Mr. Tyrer, "I made an appointment to hear him one evening at 5.30. But he did not turn up. Next day excuses were made, another appointment was arranged, and the young man arrived on time, bringing a selection of songs. Turning them over, I selected "O Star of Eve". At the first note I sat startled. It was years since I had heard a voice of such singular strength and beauty".

Acting on Mr. Tyrer's recommendation, Trinity College of Music granted this promising boy a scholarship, giving him free tuition in everything necessary. Over £1000 was subscribed by musical enthusiasts in Auckland.

A Great Achievement.

On landing in England, Natzke lost on time in paying a call on Sir J.B. Wright, who had been entrusted, by the trustees of the fund, to look after Natzke's affairs. Natzke was shown into his office.

"My name is Natzke", he announced.

Sir J.B. White looked at him in amazement.

"Good heavens!" he exclaimed, "I thought you were a Maori"

It so happened that Albert Garcia was teaching at Trinity College. The name Garcia is well known in musical circles throughout the world - it was Albert's grandfather, Manuel Garcia, who helped Rossini with the score of his famous opera "Barber of Saville", and who, with other members of the family, gave the first presentation of this opera in America. Albert was so pleased with his new pupil, that he treated Oscar like one of the family, giving freely of his time outside college hours, and Natzke fully justified the old master's great faith in him by winning the Hammond Prize. Scoring 96 out of a possible 100 is considered an outstanding achievement.

A Star of Opera.

It was wonderful how his luck held out. Although he had made several excellent recordings with Parlophone, he had yet to gain recognition in grand opera. One afternoon Vladimir was walking along Wigmore Street, when he abruptly stopped, delighted at the quality and volume of a bass voice singing part of the Verdix Requiem. Rosing dashed into the studio from whence the sounds proceeded and discovered the singer was Oscar Natzke. So followed an audition at Covent Garden. Natzke was offered the leading part - De Fulke - in a new opera, "The Serf", by George Lloyd, as well as parts in Fault and Rigoletto.

On October 10th, 1938 Natzke made his first appearance in grand opera, in "Faust". Ten days later he appeared as lead in the new opera. At the first interval, when the gallery rose to its feet and cheered him to the echo, he knew he was a success.

M. Saritza.

It has so happened in all ages of the world that some have laboured and others have without labour enjoyed a very large proportion of the fruit. This is wrong and should not continue.

Abraham Lincoln.

Philosophers have only explained the world in various ways. The task is to change it.

Marx.