“THE LITTLE MELBA"

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11654, 19 October 1923, Page 9

“THE LITTLE MELBA"

AIISS STELLA TOWER. NEW ZEALAND TOUR. Accompanied by her husband, Air W. F. O’Rourke, Aliss Stella Tower, the Australian singer, arrived in Wellington from Sydney thi> week. W lmn scon ye.v toidav bv a "New Zealand Times’ representative Aliss Power showed no illeffects from the buffeting the ve.-scl had received on it-, trip to Wellington, which appears to have been one of those thoroughly disagreeable voyages which the Tasman Sea knows so well how to provide. Indeed, both Mr O’Rourke and Aliss Power declared they bad never had a worse trip all over the world, though fortunately being seasoned travellers tlie weather did i ot affve* them as badly ns others of the passengers To many people Aliss Power’s name is familiar, through her secondary appellation of "The Little Melba,” a -title bestowed on her by tlie Diva herself, whose, protegee she lias been and who hus interested herseli very largely in Aliss Power’s i areor. That career has indeed been quite meteoric. It began by Aliss Power winning an open scholarship at the Afelbourne Conservator] um against all comers. Dame Nellie Melba heard her sing, was delighted with her voice, and undertook her training herself. She made her debut in Australia under Melba’s auspices, then in IDT7 she accompanied the great Australian songstress on n tour of America, singing on every platform with the Diva. Miss P-cwer sang in almost every town in tho United States and everywhere received great ovations. Among her appearances was one with tho Boston Symphony Orchestra. under the famous conductor, Dr. Carl Muck. Then Aliss Power went to England, whore also she received much help and encouragement from Dome Nellie. Her first appearance was' at the Royal Albert Hall, singing with tho famous orche.-ira under Sir Landon Ronald. The critics immediately hailed her a*'a coming star, and everywhere she has justified "the title of "The Little Melba,” her voice being considered to have the pure ami even quality of tone of her great namesake, a quality which somehow seems to belong to the clear air and sunshine of their Australian homeland. Aliss Power has toured all over England, singing with such artists as Kubelik, Gerardy, and Backhand, and hak made many appearances in London. Indeed her appearances during the last five years' constitute' a record, 51 at the Albert Hall, and 24 at the Queen’s Hall, London, and at the lattor she-sang last season no fewer than eight times, an unheard of thing previously for one artist. Among tho tours which Mr and Airs O’Rourke look back upon with great pleasure, was one taken recently to Norway. There Miss Power had been engaged for four appearances, and gave, eleven in. response to an insistent demand, singing with the Christiania Philharmonic Society, .and at Bergen. In these places they have, said Aliss Power, a peciiliarly definite way with artists whom they do not like. The audience will walk out, even in the middle of an item. She was particularly pleased and proud, therefore, that at her first .in Christiania not only did everyone stay to tho end, j nut they gave the peculiar rhythmic apiplause which they use to denote approval, , and kept it up until the singer had rei snonded again and again; until finally the management had to put out the lights ‘to intimate that the concert was over, i Miss Powor’s connection with that part lof the world was continued in an appearjance with the conductor,. Schueovoight, |of Stockholm, who came to London, and j who" specially engaged her to appear with ihi.s orchestra.

j Aliss Power has sung many times at ballad concerts, as well as with orchestral performances and her' concerts will j include many ballads. She is converI sant. of course, with much that is new in music, and among her songs are tsomo | of Richard Hageman's, an American com- | poser. Speaking of the modern type of j music, Aliss Power admitted that she pre- | ferred some of the older songs, as much •of the new lacked their rhythm, and 'in consequence they are much more difficult to sing. These newer efforts have ; their, interest, however, and the musician jof to-day is naturally interested to sec ,-wbat the modern tendency will lead to. ] Speaking of modern music led Miss I Power to relate her experiences when she jtang for the record of "Rout,” by Bliss. | Tlie composer put in the vocal part j specially for this record, and wrote a piano score for Miss Power to practise Ithe song with. When she went to make the record Miss, Power had not given • the song with ah orchestra before, and ‘the effect was to greatly increase the i difficult nature of the performance. f,o [that it really was a great achievement on her part. One can only wish that it might be possible to hear Miss Power in such a piece during her tour, but Now Zealand, for the present, .will probably have to be content with the gramophone record.

Aliss Power has a very charming personality, and during her stay in Now Zealand there is no doubt she will make many friends. Thi« is her first visit to New Zealand, but Air O’Rourke has been here before/and he intends to show his wife as much as possible of the country. Especially do they want to visit Rotorua, even if only for a flying trip, for, as Air O’Rourke says, it will pi obably be some years before they come this way again, and they want to seo everything possible.