MADAME MELBA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19512, 16 December 1926, Page 14

MADAME MELBA.

REHEARSES FOR TWO HOURS. ;) SOUTH LONDON CONCERT. LONDON. Dec. 7. | . Dame Nellie Melba, without showing a trace of weariness, rehearsed for two hours at.the "Old Vic." preparatory to her concert to-morrow .night. She concentra kd with her Australian colleagues in 1 ™ Mirni's " death scene. The,diva looked almost youthful, wearing a red cloth out-door coat, with a silver grey fur collar, and a fashionable little hat. The chilliness compelled the aators: to retain their overcoats. Dame Melba, reclining on .a comfortless bed,.cried, "Tempo! Tempo!" to the orchestra. She suddenly' stopped in the middle of a poignant passago and exclalifaed: " This mattress is full of bumps'ahd- holes. Get another! " She, then got up and dashed to her iiniou'Siiie to keep an appointment, thereby disappointing the spectators, who wefe expecting to enjoy the emotional climax of " Mimi's " death. Instead, they had to bo satisfied with seeing the despairing lover, Rudolpho, embracing only pillows. Dante Melba is paying the expenses of all the principals and the augmented orchestra;