from the National Museum of Wales
(Reardon Smith Lecture Theatre)
Parry Jones (tenor)
Robert Edwards (pianoforte)
The BBC Welsh Orchestra
Leader, Frank Thomas
Conductor, Idris Lewis
Parry Jones one of the soloists in this concert, was born at Blaina, Monmouthshire, the son of a well-known Welsh amateur tenor. He studied under Albert Visetti at the Royal College of Music, and with Ernesto Colli (the teacher of Lazaro, Tom Burke , and other famous singers) at Milan. He went to America in 1913 and sang for two years at the Metropolitan Opera House. He also made several successful concert tours.
He returned to this country in May, 1915, on the last voyage of the Lusitania. When the liner went down he was in the water for six and a half hours before being rescued by a trawler. As a result of this experience Parry Jones had a nervous breakdown for two years.
On regaining his health he joined the d'Oyly Carte Opera Company for one tour, and then the Carl Rosa Opera Company for four years.
Apart from his voice, Parry Jones became famous in Wales for his prowess at Rugby football and cricket.
Robert Edwards , another of the soloists to be heard this evening, studied at the Royal Academy of Music, where he gained the Macfarren Scholarship for Composition, the Townsend Scholarship for the Pianoforte, and numerous other awards. Later, he studied the piano with Tobias Matthay , and gained his B.Mus. in 1934. He has frequently broadcast from the London studios and from Eastbourne and Bournemouth, as well as in the Welsh programmes.