After conducting the winning performance of “Die Meistersingers” at the 1903 National Championship at Crystal Palace Alexander Owen took Besses on a grand tour of England, Scotland and Wales. A further tour of France followed in 1905 and in July 1906 they embarked on a world tour starting in New York. After a series of triumphs in far flung Canada, Honolulu, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia they sailed back in December 1907.