A SUCCESSFUL NEW ZEALAND CONTRALTO.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13250, 19 October 1908, Page 2

A SUCCESSFUL NEW ZEALAND CONTRALTO.

INTERVIEW WWII MISS IBENE AINSLEY. A frank, unaffected New Zealand girl, quite unspoiled by her success in tho great world of music at Horne —a success rarely falling to the lot of New Zealand singers in the Old Country— such is Miss Irene Ainsley, the Auckland contralto, who makes her debut hero on Wednesday evening. In tho course of an interview on Saturday with a member of tho staff of "The Press," Miss Ainsley recounted her experiences and her triumphs under the :egis of Madame Melba. "It would scarcely be possible," said Miss Ainsley. "for mc to have accomplished what- I did had it not been for the efforts of Madame Melba on my behalf. During her visit to tho Dominion, and whilst she was in Auckland, I had the opportunity of singing to Madame Melba. I had been studying hard for somo time, and my friends expressed themselves as being _ very pleased with my voice. But to sing to Madame Melba, tho greatest singer of our day, was quito another thing. However, t took courage, and sang to her. Madame pointed out several faults, and suggested how I could improve my voice, but on the whole was so pleased with mc that she advised mo to go to England and study music under the best masters. The people of Auckland took up the matter, and gave mc several concerts prior to my departure. Then came tho time when I left Now Zealand and started on my career in the Old Country. On reaching England I worked steadily and persistently for nearly two years studying. One day Madame Melba told mc that I was to go to Paris, and that she had written to Madame Marchesi about mo. I could hardly believe it to bo true, but shortly afterwards I left London for Paris to enter the classes of Madame Marchesi. The distinguished teacher, owing to Madame Melba's recommendation, received mc most warmly, and put mc at once into the opera class. Hero I remained, working very hard, the encouragement given to mo from tamo to timo by Madame Melba during her visits to Paris proving a strong incentive. One day I received a letter froir Madame that quite astounded mc. '1 havo arranged your debut in London at tho Bechstein Hall,' Madnnve Melbr wrote, 'and the Prince and Princess o. Wales will be present' I felt quite frightened for a while, but braced myself 110 and left Paris for London, going to" Madame Melba's houso on the Thames. On the eventful night the hal was crowded with a fashionable audience, a-nd I was complimented on my snioccss. Thwi followed a command tc sing at Marlborough House, when both tho Prince, and the Princess expressed' their appreciation, and I received from them as a, memento -what ia my mo-st treasured possession, a brooch with their conjoined monograms. Then followed a, number of engagements both at concerts and' at private houses, in which I was associated with some of th? most celebrated singers of the day. At I had had two winters in England, 1 decided that I would avoid th© bnglish -winter this year, and pay a visit to Australasia. This, coupled, with a desire once more to visit my home, is why lam here." , . In reply to a question as to her intentions for the future, Miss Ainsley said:—"l am giving a series of concerts in* Australia after my New Zealand tour, and then I go back to Ergland, where I have a number of engagements waiting for mc, commencing in May next. I have determined to go on the stage in opera, and have already partly studied several roles; but this »will not be for a couple of years. I shall be gaining experience by my concert -work, talcing the opportunity to etudy several of tho principal opera roles> meanwhile. I have sung m lne Messiah' and, 'Elijah,' but my experience of oratorio work has not been great." . ' . Speaking on the question of popular taste in music, Miss Aiixisley said*:— ."The most successful concerts given in, London just now are the Bocsey Ba_tad Concerts, in which there are only one or two classical items on the .programme, tho rest boini? ballads. Itus is my idea also of the style of programme that appeals to tho public as a whole." " '