MDLLE DOLORES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13326, 5 November 1906, Page 6

MDLLE DOLORES.

A CHAT WITH THE STAR SOPRANO.

A charming personality, a. vivacity that is almost infectious, and an utter absence of affectation, make Mdlle. Dolores beloved of colonials. When a Herald representative found her at supper in the Grand Hotel last night, after the arrival of the Sydney boat, she was feeling tired after her journey, but with a pleasant smile she accorded an interview.

"Yes, Australia is always delightful to me-, and then I come on to New Zealand to complete the impression; I do love these colonies,' - she said. Mr. Wells, now, he is in love with Queensland, he goes into raptures over it."

Then tho prima donna's friend, who has accompanied her on so many of her wanderings, Mdlle. Vandotir, chimed in: "We have just had tho most lovely time; ask Mdlle. Dolores about the Northern Rivers." Mdlle. Dolores promptly said " sugar cane," and everyone laughed. "You see," she said, "after the Brisbane season, we went on quite a now tour, to the Northern Rivers districts, visiting Lismore, Grafton, and other delightful spots, where there is such beautiful country, and the people, were all so very good. We went to tho sugarfields, where everybody chews little bits of cane, in order to predict what sort of a crop there is going to be. To 'sweeten' our voices we ate a lot, and almost made ourselves sick with it." "You found yourself at home in Australia. Mdlle. Dolores?" •' Oh. yes, they made us feel that we never wanted to leave," and she wont on to saythat she had made up her mind to avoid European engagements in future that would keep her from these. colonies for more, than two years. There was always an indefinite but very real charm about New Zealand that drew her thoughts to this favoured land, and she meant, on this tour, to go right through, visiting every town of any size. When references were made to the great audiences which had greeted her in tho Australian capitals, she replied that everywhere she had met with every kindness, and most particularly had she been pleased with' the kind receptions arranged for her by the various musical societies. A request for the names of some of '.he items she intended for the Auckland public brought a puzzled frown to her brow, as shesaid, "Really, there are so many, and I haven't quite made up my mind, but I won't forget 'Home, Sweet Home,' and the 'Shade Song;' probably I will sing the 'Gipsy Song' (Dvorak)." "Shall we hear the 'Divinities du Styx' (Gluck)?" "Yes, I think so," she said, and she also half-promised'.Purcell's "I Attempt, from Love's Sickness to Fly," one of the most exquisite love lyrics in existence, and some German numbers, such as Bach's " Willst du dein I.lerz mir Rehonken" and Schumann's "Mondnacht." "What did the Melbourne Town Hall audience like best''" "I am not sure; but they seemed especially pleased with Moreau's theme and variations, 'II | Dolce Canto;' they cheered the first variation." Mr. Franz Wells, the solo pianist, who accompanies Mdlle. Dolores, and who met with so flattering a reception throughout Australia, when asked for some of his numbers, replied that for the first recital on Thursday evening next ho would play the " 12th Rhapsody" of Liszt. In all probability he would play Chopin's "Impromptu in G Flat," and some of Schubert's melodies.