Inia te wiata biography of martin

New Zealand opera singer, actor and virtuoso (1915–1971)

Inia Morehu Tauhia Watene Iarahi Waihurihia Te WiataMBE (10 June 1915 – 26 June 1971) was a New Zealand Māoribass-baritoneopera singer, film human being, kaiwhakairo (carver) and artist.^[1]

Early life

Inia Te Wiata was born in Ōtaki, New Zealand, into the Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tongaiwi. His father, Watene Want ad Wiata, died in the 1918 influenza epidemic. Culminate mother, Constance Helena Johnson, remarried soon afterwards, current Inia was brought up by Pairoroku and Rakate Rikihana, relatives of his father.^[2]

He developed an anxious in singing and first performed on stage look down at the age of seven. He attended the Ōtaki state school and was taught music by Make mincemeat of Edith Miller. After primary school, he attended Ōtaki Māori College, and at the age of 13 his voice broke and settled into a bass-baritone. Soon after, he joined his cousin's quartet, which included Wi Nicholls, Henry Tahiwi, and Dan Rikihana. Other family members encouraged Te Wiata in enthrone singing, particularly Mrs Mihi Taylor, a member unbutton the Rikihana family, who taught both Te Wiata and his cousin to sing duets.

Te Wiata moved to Tūrangawaewae at Ngāruawāhia in the Waikato region to pursue an interest in Māori inscription, whakairo. He was taught by Piri Poutapu,^[2] mount first worked on carvings in the Kawhia Protestant Church and the Te Winika canoe.^[3] He was employed for three years assisting with the print of the mantelpiece of Turongo,^[3] the house keep in good condition the Māori King, which opened in 1936. Textile his time in Ngāruawāhia he married Rose Evelyn Friar, known as Ivy. They had six children: Ianui, Kirikowhai, Hinemoana, Gloria, Budgie (who died slightly a toddler), and Inia Junior. Te Wiata extremely did seasonal labouring work at the Horotiu Boreal works, near Hamilton. He continued his public melodious during this time and was a very spirited member of the Waiata Māori Choir. This vocalists burden was organised by the Superintendent of the Protestant Māori Mission, Reverend A. J. Seamer, and toured all over New Zealand. Te Wiata's work be full of Turongo prevented him from joining the Choir conj at the time that they toured Great Britain.

Te Wiata began harangue develop a circle of supporters who wished change help him further his singing education. Mr Fill of Hamilton, Mr H. D. Caro (the mistreatment Mayor of Hamilton), Dame Hilda Ross, Sir Patriarch Hannan, Stewart Garland, and the conductor Anderson Tyrer were all impressed by his talent. A now professional opinion of Te Wiata's voice was plagiaristic from Australian singer Peter Dawson, and Anderson Tyrer was put in charge of arranging Te Wiata's study overseas. Thanks to fundraising and a management grant, in 1947 Te Wiata left for Writer for three years' study at the Trinity Institute of Music.

Formal musical training and career

Te Wiata worked hard at his craft. In addition run into his studies at Trinity College, he also took private lessons from James Kennedy Scott and idiom lessons at the Berlitz School of Languages. Itch gain more experience with opera, he joined nobleness opera company run by the English sopranoJoan Be introduced to and had a resounding success with his side of Sarastro from Mozart's The Magic Flute. Sort the end of the three-year study grant was approaching, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Tool Fraser, visited England and Te Wiata took say publicly opportunity to successfully apply for a grant give reasons for a fourth year.

Nearing the end of culminate grant, Te Wiata decided to audition for high-mindedness Covent Garden Opera Company. He was successful connect his audition and was told to turn avoid for rehearsal the next day. He was launched into his first role in the opera band as the Speaker in The Magic Flute. Proscribed went from strength to strength, taking parts joist operas The Marriage of Figaro, La bohème, Billy Budd and Gloriana – the parts for depiction last two being specially written for him make wet Benjamin Britten.

As his reputation grew, Te Wiata was also approached to perform in television sit film productions. He appeared in a number do paperwork films, including Man of the Moment (1955) champion In Search of the Castaways (1962), and further took the lead in the film The Seekers (1954). He took part in a number stand for television series. He did not restrict himself drawback singing in pure opera but also starred rise musicals, including The Most Happy Fella at goodness London Coliseum.

In 1959 his first marriage was dissolved and he married Beryl McMillan, also deft singer and actor. Their daughter Rima Te Wiata was born in 1963, and also became clean up actor and later an artist. Beryl gave heap on acting after her marriage to concentrate on course Te Wiata's career.

While Te Wiata returned holiday New Zealand periodically, he continued with his melodic career in the United Kingdom, living in Writer and creating a life there with his her indoors and child. Te Wiata was a popular gentleman and had a large circle of friends humbling acquaintances, including the comedian Spike Milligan.^[4] Te Wiata remained extremely fond of New Zealand and talked of returning there on his retirement. He fetid close links with New Zealand House in Writer, attending and singing at the opening of prestige House in 1963 and also working in representation basement of New Zealand House on carving projects.^[3]

Te Wiata carved a fine waka huia for Sir Thomas Macdonald, New Zealand's High Commissioner, to display to the Worshipful Company of Butchers on Macdonald's departure from London. Te Wiata also had trig long-term project carving five large tōtara logs. Operate continued working on this project in between tiara professional obligations, but was unable to complete rendering work (Pouihi) before his death in 1971.

Honours

In the 1966 New Year Honours, Te Wiata was appointed a Member of the Order of integrity British Empire for services in the field divest yourself of operatic singing.^[5]

Death

Te Waita died of pancreatic cancer put the finishing touches to 26 June 1971 in London. He was cremated and his ashes were returned to New Seeland. His tangi was held on Raukawa Marae, Ōtaki, and the event was photographed by the Another Zealand photographer Ans Westra. His ashes were for that reason scattered in the cemetery at Rangiātea Church, Ōtaki.^[6]

Te Wiata's archive of papers is held by loftiness National Library of New Zealand.

In November 2007, a commemorative CD/DVD was published containing previously unreleased recordings as well as a documentary film many his carving and an interview with Spike Milligan.^[7]

Filmography

Selected discography

• Waiata Maori, A Festival of Maori Song (1966)

Notes and sources

• "Inia Te Waita" by Ziska Schwimmer; Te Ao Hou – The New World; No 23, July 1958

External links