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Thread ID: 139903 2015-07-20 01:30:00 Natzke, Franz Oscar - NZ Opera Singer kahawai chaser (3545) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1405082 2015-07-20 01:30:00 Anyone heard of him? Born near Te Awamutu. I was surprised that he was a reknown opera singer from NZ, in the 30's and 40's, though it seems mainly abroad. He died young aged 39. Found about him via researching a early Bette Davis Movie, of which Natze wife remarried to a Holloywood actor, Charles Coburn, who appeared in some of Davis's movies. Govt Bio archive/Info here. (www.teara.govt.nz) kahawai chaser (3545)
1405083 2015-07-20 02:01:00 I think he was known as Oscar Natzke. If that was he, he was highly regarded. Bryan (147)
1405084 2015-07-20 02:12:00 Just looked on Youtube under Oscar Natzke. There are songs there by Oscar if anyone is interested. Bryan (147)
1405085 2015-07-20 02:55:00 Yes, very well known to those interested in opera or music. Of course in those days radio and records (78 rpm) were the only media available for people to learn of his talent. He was just really coming into world renown as a bass singer when he died.
He was known as Oscar Natzka in New Zealand, which was how the original Natzke should have been pronounced.
Richard (739)
1405086 2015-07-20 02:58:00 His Son lives or lived in Tauranga. Had a beer with him a year or so ago and have a friend that knows the son quite well. The son who grew up in the elite part of Hollywood is a real interesting guy to talk to.

Anything special you'd like to know I'll try and find out for you.
B.M. (505)
1405087 2015-07-20 05:01:00 I had one of his records a long time ago. R.M. (561)
1405088 2015-07-20 05:08:00 Seems no reference to him today in NZ, possibly like other reknown NZ's whom seem to get forgotten, unlike overseas where their may be memorials, scholarships, art centres, ships, hospitals, etc renamed after a celebrity's death. kahawai chaser (3545)
1405089 2015-07-20 05:31:00 To be fair, he was cut down before reaching his prime, and had not yet become as world renowned as you seem to think. Most of his performances were in Europe and so he was not really famous even in NZ. And don't forget that this was just after the war, and people had other things on their minds. Richard (739)
1405090 2015-07-20 07:08:00 He used to be on the 'wireless' quite a bit. Another who has dropped off the radar is Inia Te Wiata, a bloke made of art. R2x1 (4628)
1405091 2015-07-20 07:13:00 , which was how the original Natzke should have been pronounced.

:confused: I can't picture how the name might be pronounced other than rhyming with 'the'

I sometimes confuse Natzke with Inia Te Wiata who also died relatively young. Richard Farrell the NZ pianist died young too (31)
BBCmicro (15761)
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