MADAME MELBA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1617, 25 February 1903, Page 32

MADAME MELBA.

HER WELLINGTON C ONCERT. For tho Wellington concert of jViadamo Melba at tlie Opera. House on Monday night, every seat in the theatre had been sold, Avhilst crowds of people who had no hope, if they had the wish, of being present at the concert assembled in the street outside Avith the idea presumably of catching a glimpse of Madame Melba. The audience, AA'liich included the Premier of the colony, is bciioA’ed to have been the largest seen in the Opera House. It certainly represented the highest return yet obtained from an audience in that building, for the gross takings from the sale of seats realised nearly LUGO, a sum Avhich is believed to be a record for the colony. Madame Melba, Avhose first song was preceded by three items by other members of her company, Avas greeted Avit-h demonstrative applause Aviieii she advaneecl to the platform—cmimaiiamg and self-confident in deportment, her trdi figure garbed in white, and ablaze Avitli diamonds. Tire first impression was cue of mementary surprise at- tlio lightness of her voice, as she began t-Ixe great aria “Arden gl’incensi,” the celebrated song cf Lucia. Then it -was soon realised that her A r cicc has a remarkable carrying power; that its quality is pure and silvery, and perfectly equable throughout the registers, and that so far as technique is concerned lier singing is absolutely flawless. Madame Melba’s voice, in fact, represents the highest pitch of perfection in the art of the A'ccal gymnast. No difficulties are too formidable, no intricacies too exacting, for a A'cice so faultlessly trained. It lias all the agility and flexibility Avhch makes for the unrivalled bravura singer. Then in her legato singing she attains the high(est point in voice-production. filer portamento is Avitliout the slightest suspicion of “scoop," eA'ery tone being sustained absolutely until the next is attacked. In her rase of the mezza A'oce, again, lier method is really most judicious, the reduced tones having a clear, penetrating beauty, AA’hich carries to every corner of tlie hall. This much haA'ing been said, it- may also be said that the singing of Madame Melba last night for the most part appealed to the head, but not to the heart. On© AA’as almost lost in astonishment at the plenitude of her poAA'ers of A r cealisaTmn and her articulation, and charmed AA'ith the quality of her voice, but he seldom found his heart gripped. In tlie great song of Lucia, the scale passages, intervals, shakes and graces of ornament' were given AA’ith that art which conceals art," and finally the introduced cadenza, -where the voice vies AA'ith the flute obbligato in' its display of agility, ascending to E-flat three spaces°above tlie stave, Avas followed by loud applause, which broke from Ml parts of the theatre. Madame Melba, Avho was presented Avitli two massive bouquets, AA’as compelled to return twice-

to the platform, and finally had to sing an. encoro piece—“three Green lionnets,” a charming little ballad by Guy d’Hardelot.” The ‘‘-Mad Scene” for Ophelia, from the “Hamlet” of. Ambroise Thomas, was a triumph, for it revealed IMadamo JAxelba for the lixsttime with strong dramatic feeling, in the passage beginning with the despairing sob of Ophelia, and the result "as that the audience loudly insisted upon hearing her again, when she sang with admirable enunciation and « spirit “Coinin’ Thro’ the Rye,” and was almost called out again. In the florid “So Snran Rose” of Arditi, Madame Melba again aroused enthusiasm, and replied to +he inevitable encore with Tosti’s “Good-bye,” the best of her ballads. Even then the nndience would have liked to hear more. Madame Melba was supported by Frederic Griffith, who played very effectively the flute obbligato in the “Lucia” aria, and contributed a flute solo in capital tone and finish : Miss Klva Rogers, a strong if somewhat unequal contralto, who sang two bo:kids 1 1h marked exnro.ssion, one of them as an encore pie ce: Mr .Walter Kirby, who has a sweet tenor voice, but 1 1 ot a 1 ways a correct method of reading, and who was likewise encored; Signorina Snssol:, a mere girl, whose artistic nai p-p.a\ ing greatly pleased the audience, and won her two 1 recalls ; Miss Llewela Davies, a nian'st of polished touch and delicate expression, who « S also dosorvg.lv r ? - called for her solo; and Miss -Natalie Dawson, who took part in a piano duet and played some of the accompaniments.