by Gerald Cassen (bass)
Gerald Cassen , who has not infrequently been compared with Chaliapin,' was born in Riga, but went to Johannesburg at the age of ten, where he spent much of his early life. While living there with his music-loving parents, he studied under Cavatero Margotini on whose advice he went to study in Milan. Thereafter he returned to Johannes burg and toured South Africa with Margaret Fairless. Returning to Europe, he continued to study in Berlin.
In 1936 Cassen sang at Covent
Garden with the British Music Drama Opera Company, and in 1937 appeared during the International season with Sir Thomas Beecham. Last April he sang ' Tannhauser ' at the Worthing Music Festival.