Tatjana Hitrina

Soprano singer of Russian origin. As a small child she came to Belgrade, Yugoslavia in the early 1920s where her family found refuge there after the Russian Revolution. She attended the Music Academy in Belgrade, and began performing at the age of 16. She later studied at the Vienna Conservatory. In April, 1948, the Czech choir Lumir, Hitrina and another singer, Tamara Dragon appeared with the Vienna Tonkünstler Orchestra (conducted by Andrij Hnatschyn) at the Great Hall, Musikvereinn. In late 1950, she left Vienna and came to Australia, settling in Brisbane and found employment working as a domestic in a hospital and later at a biscuit factory. It didn't take long for this refugee from Europe to get attention for her singing talent. Within two years, she once again gained fame. On Monday, November 8th, 1954, Radio 3LO broadcasted a performance of Beethoven Ninth Symphony by The Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Hurlsone Choral Society under the direction of Sir Eugene Goossens. She was one of the soloists. This took place at the Sydney Town Hall. On June 29th, 1959, the large Festival of Nations event was held at Brisbane's Festival Hall. She coached sixty school children for the "Indian Wedding" piece which was a scene from the musical, "The King and I". Also that year in September, she appeared in a concert presented by The U.Q. Musical Society, held at The Albert Hall. Along with Daryl O'Donohue, Eunice Knapp and Harolsd Cook, she was one of four soloists for the Stabat Mater. As well as performing with the Sydney Orchestra, she performed with Queensland Symphony Orchestra. She also organized aid concerts and held a singing school for children. In the 1950s, she was based in Paddington, Brisbane. She was married to Grecia Gootman aka Grisha Froimoff-Goutman