Tatjana Hitrina was a Russian-born soprano singer who escaped the Russian Revolution. She eventually settled in Australia and established herself as a singer in various Australian orchestras. She was also a vocal teacher.
Background Tatjana Hitrina was the daughter of a Russian general in the Czarist army,The Courier Mail, Thursday, Sept 23, 1954 – Page 11 From domestic to the concert stage Major General Alexander Nikolaevich Hitrin. He was a quartermaster general of the South Russian Armed Forces.Bandenkampf, 25 August 2015 – 0454 | Photo | Soldatensender Belgrad, Soldiers' Radio Belgrade Winter Season Opening at the National Theatre. A frowned SS-Oberscharführer Josef Schifko, cameraman of the 8th Platoon, SS War Correspondent Battalion, adjusts the microphone to opera singer Tatjana Hitrina While still a small child in the 1920s, she and her parents fled Russia and went to Belgrade due to the Russian Revolution.
Tatjana's singing began at the age of sixteen.The Courier Mail, Thursday, Sept 23, 1954 – Page 11 From domestic to the concert stage It was on the insistence of Italian Professor Signor Tarallo that she entered the Belgrade Musical College. She sang with the Belgrade National Opera. Following her graduation from college, she entered the Vienna Conservatorium.The Sunday Mail, October 11, 1953 – Page 3 In 1950 A Refugee, In 1953 A Celebrity
While in Belgrade she sang before the Duchess of Kent.The Courier Mail, Thursday, Sept 23, 1954 – Page 11 From domestic to the concert stage
In 1950, she came to Australia. Over the next two years she worked as a domestic in the Brisbane Gerneral Hospital and then a biscuit factory.The Courier Mail, Thursday, Sept 23, 1954 – Page 11 From domestic to the concert stage
By 1954, soprano Hitrina was one of the soloists in the Beethoven's Ninth Symphony by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.Australian Musical News and Musical Digest Volumes 45–46, 1954 – Page 34 New Australian Soloist in Beethoven's Ninth She also worked with conductor Rudolf Pekarek.Australian Musical News and Musical Digest Volumes 45–46, 1954 – Page 40
She was one of the resident artists that appeared in public concerts by the ABC Orchestras.Annual Report Issues 13–23, By Australian Broadcasting Commission · 1944 – Page 46 Resident Artists Who Appeared with ABC Orchestras Public Concerts
Career (Europe) Yugoslavia In late 1936, the Belgrade Operetta company went on tour to Subotica. It also included a guest performance by a well-known Yugoslav film diva, Rakel Davido. Hitrina, Ivka Berković, Ms. Vuličević, Dino Ljubišić, Dragutin Levak, Josip Bakotić,and Milan Odžić also took part.doiSerbia (National Library of Serbia) - Under Political and Market Pressures: The Staging of Operetta in Interwar Belgrade*, Ivana Vesić, Page 138 33 The artists that took part in the performance of this work were: Ivka Berković, Tatjana Hitrina, Ms. Vuličević, Dino Ljubišić, Dragutin Levak, Josip Bakotić, Milan Odžić, etc. See Anonymous 1936e Along with Ivan Durđević, Hitrina was one of the company’s leading artists.doiSerbia (National Library of Serbia) - Under Political and Market Pressures: The Staging of Operetta in Interwar Belgrade*, Ivana Vesić, Page 139
On 3 October 1942, Tatjana Hitrina performed at the National Theater in Belgrade. She was photographed at a concert with a frowning SS-Oberscharführer Josef Schifko who was adjusting her microphone. Schifko was a cameraman of the 8th Platoon, SS War Correspondent Battalion.Bandenkampf, 25 August 2015 – 0454 | Photo | Soldatensender Belgrad, Soldiers' Radio Belgrade Winter Season Opening at the National Theatre. A frowned SS-Oberscharführer Josef Schifko, cameraman of the 8th Platoon, SS War Correspondent Battalion, adjusts the microphone to opera singer Tatjana Hitrina
Austria After spending several years in Vienna and having studied at the Vienna Conservatory, she left the country in 1950 for Australia.Bandenkampf, 25 August 2015 – 0454 | Photo | Soldatensender Belgrad, Soldiers' Radio Belgrade Winter Season Opening at the National Theatre. A frowned SS-Oberscharführer Josef Schifko, cameraman of the 8th Platoon, SS War Correspondent Battalion, adjusts the microphone to opera singer Tatjana Hitrina
Career (Australia) Now in Australia, Hitrina was part of an event by new Australians who were from Greta Camp. It was organized by camp entertainment officer Mrs. Rene Dooley.Maitland Mercury, Tuesday, October 31, 1950 - Page 3 CONCERT BY NEW AUSTRALIANS
Along with Hungarian Tenor, Dr. Karolyi Zeold, Tatjana Hitrina was set to appear at the Citrus Festival in Gosford which commenced on Saturday 11 November 1950.The Gosford Times, Friday, November 10, 1950 - Front Page (Page 1) Carnival Atmosphere For Opening Of Festival Week Tomorrow
Cockpit It was reported by the Sunday Mail in the publication's 15 June 1952 issue that Tatjana Hitrina was to play a part in a stage production that she knew how to play. Her husband, Mr. G. F. Goutman spoke on her behalf as she didn't speak English. He told of her having to flee to Belgrade with her parents at the age of five during the Russian Revolution and suffer the horrors of war. The article titled "She doesn't have to act" also included her picture.The Sunday Mail, June 15, 1952 - Page 5 She doesn't have to act The play was Bridget Boland's Cockpit. It was a Brisbane Repertory Theater production. Hitrina played the lead role of Claudia a displaced person. Ray Barrett, Rosemary Stevenson, Gloria Birdwood-Smith and Betty Ross were also in the play. The production which ran from 18 June to 21 June 1952 was produced by Babette Stephens and ran at the Albert Hall in Brisbane.La Boite Theatre – Gallery, The Brisbane Repertory Theatre Presents Cockpit By Bridget BolandBrisbane Telegraph, Wednesday, June 18, 1952 - Page 23 Women's Interest, COSTUMES will be of minor importance in the Repertory Theatre's play "Cockpit." which will be presented in the Albert Hall tonight. The play received a positive review in the 19 June issue of the Courier Mail. The reviewer called the play thought provoking.La Boite Theatre – Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 – 1954), Thursday 19 June 1952, page 5 Cockpit Success
Further activities On Saturday 12 July 1952, Tatjana Hitrina and clarinetist Gabor Reeves performed at the Sydney Town Hall with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra which was conducted by Tibor Paul. Hitrina sang an aria from Smetana's The Bartered Bride. Reviewer for the Sunday Mail, Ernest Briggs said that she sang it with a sympathetic impression of the essential mood of the song. Hitrina also went into "Knowest thou the Land" from Mignon which Briggs called a favorable impression.The Sunday Mail, July 13, 1952 – Page 16 "New Australians' concert balance, FANTASY" By Ernest Briggs
Hitrina and pianist Una Murray had the Legends of Music 6:05 slot on Radio 4QB Wide Bay for 1 February 1953. Maryborough Chronicle, Saturday, January 31, 1953 - Page 5 4QB WIDE BAY, FEATURES FOR SUNDAY, 6.05 Legends in Music, Tatjana Hitrina (soprano) and Una Murray (piano)
In an event organized by the Repatriation Department, Hitrina was to perform a recital of European folk songs for blinded ex-servicemen in the ABC studios on Wednesday 26 March 1953. The 3 to 4 pm show was to feature accompanist Ruby Knight and Mr. C. Goutman, a Polish migrant doing the commentary.Brisbane Telegraph, Tuesday Mar 25, 1952 - Page 14 CONCERT FOR BLIND SOLDIERS
Tatjana Hitrina and harpist Una Morgan were pictured in the 8 August 1953 issue of The ABC Weekly. They were to give a recital on 12 August which would be broadcast on Radio 4QR.The ABC Weekly, August 8, 1953 – Page 20 On the Note By Roland Foster
As part of a quartet of soloists which included tenor Daryl O'Donahue, Contralto Eunice Knap, and Bass Harold Cook, Hitrina (spelt Tatiana) was to appear at the Albert Hall on 26 September 1953. They would be performing music from Dvorak's Stabat Mater.Semper Floreat, Tuesday, September 22, 1953 – Musical Society: A Year's Work in Music
According to an article in the 11 October 1953 issue of the Sunday Mail, Tatjana Hitrina had now been in Australia for two years, and was running a singing studio in Whickham Terrace, Brisbane.The Sunday Mail, October 11, 1953 – Page 3 In 1950 A Refugee, In 1953 A Celebrity
An event to help Australian flood victims was organized by Hitrina and to be held at the Congregational Church on Friday 5 March 1954. This was in response to a plea by Rev. Rees Thomas, the president of the Queensland Council of Churches. In addition to her organization role, Hitrina was also one of the soloists. According to the news article, her age was 35 at the time.The Courier Mail, Tuesday, March 2, 1954 – Page 6 She Helps Sufferers
On Saturday 12 June 1954 Hitrina performed in the Lord Mayor's Room in Brisbane where she was the featured artist. Her performance was reviewed by Dr. Robert Dalley-Scarlett for the Courier-Mail. It was a carefully selected programme, properly arranged and in chronological order. He said that Hitrina knew how to sing and make proper use of lip and tongue action and how to exploit the facial expression to a full value. He also said that the experience that Hitrina had in Europe enabled her to be at her best in work by Hadyn and Mozart, but she was equally enjoyable in the lieder groups. Another artist, Elspeth Capper was referred to as the assisting artist. Dalley-Scarlett said that she played the Schuman and Alfred Hill works with adequate technique and careful interpretation.The Courier Mail, Monday June 14, 1954 - Page 5 CIVIC RECITAL "ADMIRABLE" By DR ROBERT DALLEY-SCARLETT
Work with Sydney Symphony Orchestra An article about Hitrina with her photo appeared in the 23 September issue of the Courier Mail. Earlier that month she had successfully auditioned for Eugene Goosens, the conductor for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. From that an engagement had been secured for her to sing under his conductorship in Sydney on the 3rd, 4th, 6th and 8 November.The Courier Mail, Thursday, Sept 23, 1954 – Page 11 From domestic to the concert stage
Hitrina was pictured on page 21 of the 30 October 1954 issue of the ABC Weekly. The magazine wrote that she was to make her first appearance in Sydney for the A.B.C. In addition to Hitrina, the other soloists were to be Iris Moxley (contralto), Ronald Dowd (tenor) and Stewart Harvey (baritone).The ABC Weekly, Volume 16, No. 44 October 30, 1954 - Page 21 Beethoven's Ninth To End Season Along with Hitrina, the other three vocalists which were Iris Moxley, Allan Ferris and Stewart Harvey, performed well with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra under Eugene Goosens on Wednesday 3 November 1954. In a review of the overall performance by The Sydney Morning Herald the following day, the reviewer said that the vocal performance was well balanced and distinctly audible.The Sydney Morning Herald, Thurs., Nov. 4, 1954 – Page 6 Beethoven's Choral Symphony, EXULTATION It seems that Allan Ferris instead of Ronald Dowd was one of the solosists.The ABC Weekly, Volume 16, No. 44 October 30, 1954 - Page 21 Beethoven's Ninth To End SeasonThe Sydney Morning Herald, Thurs., Nov. 4, 1954 – Page 6 Beethoven's Choral Symphony, EXULTATION
It was announced in the 8 November issue of Melbourne newspaper, The Argus that Hitrina's performance in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Hurlsone Choral Society under Eugene Goossen's direction would be broadcast from the Sydney Town Hall on Radio 3LO.The Argus, November 8, 1954 – Page 9 Pick of the Air In the ABC Weekly 6 November publication's report on the upcoming 8 November concert, Hitrina's name was misspelt as Tatyana Hitrina.The ABC Weekly, Volume 16, No. 45 November 16, 1944 - Page 21 Tenor RONALD DOWD (below), contralto IRIS MOXLEY, and baritone STEWART HARVEY (right), with soprano TATYANA HITRINA (whose photograph appeared last week) are soloists in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony
Further activities