"QUEEN OF SONG."

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14975, 22 April 1909, Page 7

" QUEEN OF SONG."

TRAVELS AXD TRIUMPHS. A CHAT WITH MELBA.. A tall, graceful, commanding presence, tho “ savoir fairo” of a woman of the world united to the soft voice and charming intonation of a young girl—that is . Melba. What is there in a beautiful voice that gives its fortunate possessor tho power to throw off the weight of years, and become ever fresher ns time goes on P Tenors, baritones and basses become large and unromantic-looking very often while still young. But sopranos turn back the clock of time and become more fascinating, more delectable to tho eye as well as to tho ear, in measure us their voices take a hold on the public of the two worlds. This unquestionably is the case with Melba, who has not waited until the years have made her charms retire to the background, but has come to New Zealand fresh from triumphs in tho older world, to make her voice heard while it is #till fresh and young. Thrice-enviable is she, who, with charm and every fascinating gift, has, like Melba, a voice to crown all. As George Eliot makes Armgart say:— 0 blessed Nature! . Slie gave me .voice Suck as she only gives a woman child. Best of its kind, gave me ambition, too, That sense transcendent which can tasto tho j»y Of swaying multitudes, of being adored For such achievement, needed excellence, As man’s best art must wait for or be dumb. The much-lauded “Queen of Song,” arrived in Christchurch yesterday afternoon by the south express, and a quarter of an hour afterwards slie was pounced upon by a reporter who had not pity for a- much-travelled lady. But a train journey was nothing to Melba, or at toast if it was, she showed nothing of it. Where another woman might be haggard, she was blooming; where another might be wearied, she was bright and brisk, and fresh as a rose.

“What do you want to know?” she asked brightly, her hat still on, her wraps thrown from her shoulders. She was all alert, and did not even show resignation, that most awful attitude for a poor interviewer to encounter. “Anything you like to tell me. Just talk, please.” “ Well, first of all, I must tell you that in my ride from the station I noticed that this place haa grown, oh, so much, since I was hero last. And there seems to be so much more bustle in tho streets. It was quite difficult for our vehicle to get along. Just like a- big,- big town. I came from Timaru to-day. I love it. It is such a dear little, pretty town. We had a good time there. Oh, yes, Ido like Timaru. W© were at Qamaru, too, and Invercargill, besides Dunedin, for this time I have carried out the idea I have had for some time, that of visiting all the little towns. I want to let everybody have a chance to hear me. I like tho little towns, and I like the people. They have been very good to me. I have many friends in Dunedin. On the whole I have been well treated, too.” Then she laughed at a reminiscence. “In Invercargill I did not have a very good timoon my concert night. As you know, singers do not have dinner, and on going to my hotel after the concert, they would not give me any supper. The servants were all c off-duty.* Nothing but sponge cakes.” “But,” she added in glee,” my butler, who is with me, went and procured some chops Cornell ow, and cooked them for me. j.ho rest ate sponge-cakes.” As soon as there was a pause inquiries were made about the accident which befel the singer just before she landed in New Zealand.

“ Yes indeed, I had a narrow escape. ’I was told on tho boat by tho steward that there was & short cut from tho deck to my cabin, down a rather steep ladder. One day I tell from tho top to the bottom of tho ladder, and wrenched my knee badly. It was put into —-wliat arc the things? “Snliiits?” “ Oh, yes, splints. It made me pretty stiff in going about, but I had to put up with it. It would never do to hop about for tho rest of my life. And it’s getting bettor fast now. Some people thought I should have to ho by, but I have a good deal of determination.” ‘‘You must have, to have got to your present position.” Madame Melba laughed. “You are right there. It is not only a good voice that one needs, but a great deal of will power. Why, when I first began my career, I thought I .had only to go on the stago and sing, but I soon found there was a good deal more in it than that. Once you begin to succeed, it is then that you are a target for those who are jealous and envious.” “ That is the ease with people in other walks of life P” ‘ “ Yes, everyone who ig more successful than his fellows has to struggle hard to keep his position. Well, when I am determined I do not draw back. And there is one thing, I am blessed with splendid health.” One has only to look at Melba to know that. Her brown eyes are bright, her complexion is clear, and she has the grand physique without which no singer could keep her voice for long. “I am splendid,” she said. And that word exactly describes her in more ways than tho one in which she meant it. “ I never in my life was in better voice either,” she added. “I havo had a good trip (bar the accident) and lovely weather has followed me everywhere. And here I am, arranging my tour from south to north to escape the winter, and there is no winter to escape. To-day lias been like the middle of summer.” “ Oh,” she said, shrugging her shoulders prettily, “ I do hate tho cold.” “ But,” here 6he laughed merrily “ there has been no cold in this country of vours to hate. It has been good to me all along.”