MADAM ELSA STRALIA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 295, 10 November 1934, Page 8

MADAM ELSA STRALIA.

PERSONAL APPEARANCE AT REGENT.

A rare musical freat will be offered patrons of the Regent Theatre to-night and on Monday and Tuesday evenings. This will be the appearance of Madame Elsa Stralia, famous Australian soprano. Madame Stralia, visiting Now Zealand after several years of successes abroad, should be a welcome addition to the programme, singing dramatic numbers with finish and resonance acquired in the world’s best schools and on international stages. Her pieces will include: “L’Amour Toujours,” “Danny Boy,”, “Softly Awakes My Heart.”

After leaving New Zealand in 1926, Madame Stralia toured extensively in Canada and America, appearing both on the concert stage and over the radio. In the United States she was brilliantly associated with the New York Symphony Orchestra, singing at 25 of the orchestra’s concerts in the Carnegie Hall. Altogether she stayed for eight years in America and Canada before returning to Australia. Madame Stralia explained that she adopted her present name at the suggestion of the great Melba. She sang at Covent Garden, London, as Donna Elvira, in “Don Giovanni,” in which she was associated with John McCormack, Emmy Dcstiii, and Antonio Scotti. Given three days to learn the part, at this short notice she assumed the leading role in “Prince Igor,” and gave a performance before the King and Queen. Amongst other outstanding successes, Madaine Stralia was praised for her work in “Aida” at Drury Lane, on a tour of the British Isles with Dame Clara Butt, and with the London Symphony Orchestra. In the concert sphere she starred with the great Pachmann and Ysaye at their Queen s Hall and Royal Albert Hall concerts, and she also sang in association with Mark Hambourg and Lamond.