Wallingford/Jarlov Family Trees

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 31, 5 August 1930, Page 11

OBITUARY

JOHN PROUSE

GREAT LOSS TO MUSIC

Musical circles in Wellington, naturally rejoicing in the Musical Festival now being held, received more than a temporary shock when it became known that Mr. John Prouse, Wellington's veteran singer, had passed away yesterday after an illness lasting a month or so. For over fifty years the late Mr. Prouse, who was 75 at the time of his death, had been associated with music in the Dominion, and he was without doubt the foremost baritone singer this country has produced. It was chiefly iii oratorio that he made his name, but his appearance at concerts of all sorts have been legion. Not only did the late Mr. Prouse make hosts of friends in the musical world, numbering amongst his personal acquaintances musical celebrities of many nationalities, but his personality endeared him to all whom he met, and his death will be regretted by a very large circle of friends. He leaves a widow, three sons, and two daughters. The sons are Messrs. William Prouse (architect) and Oliver Prouse (solicitor), both of Wellington, and Mr. George Prouse, of Milan, Italy. The daughters are Mrs. Goorge Anderson, of Buenos Aires, and Miss Constance Prouse, of Wellington.

Of all the singers that Wellington has produced, none has gained a wider celebrity than Mr. Prouse. He was born in Wellington in 1856, the son of Mr. Richard Prouse, an early settler, his family being connected with the timbermilling business. Early in life he showed himself the possessor of a mellow toned baritone voice. Forty years ago he was the principal baritone in the choir of the Taranaki Street Wesleyan Church, and was much in. request as a soloist at local concerts. Recognising the value of his vocal assets, Mr. Prouse placed himself in the first instance under Mr. Robert Parker for voice training. In later years he went Home, and continued his studies under Mr. T. A. Walworth, R.A.M., and the noted William Ganz. His fame became more than local when at the 1888 Musical Festival, he gave his first performance of the part of Elijah, in Mendelssohn's oratorio of that title. There are very few of the principal towns of New Zealand where he has not sung the part in musical festivals or the performances of choral societies. His performance of the highly dramatic music allotted to the prophet was so effective that when, during his temporary residence in England, there were occasions when Sir Charles Santley, the foremost exponent of Elijah on British platforms, was prevented by indisposition from keeping engagements, Mr. Prouse was chosen to take his place. In the same period Mr. Prouse sang at St. James's Hall, London, at the Crystal Palace, and at various places in the provinces. On his return to New Zealand, which was early in the nineties, his position was at once established as the foremost baritone in the Dominion. For many years thereafter no important musical gathering in any of the principal towns was complete without him, certainly there was no other Elijah wanted by a New Zealand choral society. In the various concert tours of Madame Dolores, daughter of the famous Madame Trebelli —at first she appeared here under "the name of Antoinette Trebelli —Mr. Prouse took an important part, and his elder daughter travelled extensively with Madame Dolores as her accompanist. Mr. Prouse has toured also with Kubelik, the violinist, with Backhaus, the pianist, and with other famous artists. On one occasion Dame Melba sent to Wellington for him to appear with her in Melbourne. His advancing years were no bar to his widening of the circle of admirers by means of broadcasting.

For over 35 years past Mr. Prouse was associated with St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral choir, where, under the direction of his old friend and coadjutor, Mr. Robert Parker, he contributed to some notable performances of the higher class of church music. With his wife, Mr. Prouse was largely instrumental in getting the Christchurch Exhibition Orchestra, (under Mr. Alfred Hill) to visit Wellington in 1906, a movement which gave Wellington its first real insight into the grandeur of a symphony orchestra.

A service will be held in St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral at 9 o'clock to-morrow morning. The interment will be private.