A FAMOUS SINGER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13999, 4 September 1907, Page 3

A FAMOUS SINGER

MADAME ALBANI INTERVIEWED

.Tho name.of an exceptionally, gifted singer invariably awakes a responeive eoho ihthe soul of'thc New Zealand public, and , this is especially so in the case of Madame Albaiii, who, although ehe now visits the colony for tho first tame, possesses a great reputation in both islands as a famous singer.' • • . ..,/•,

Arriving at tho Bluff from Hobart. ; -on Monday week, Madamo Albani gave a concert at Invercargill a week after to; a largo 'and; delighted " audience.'."' Slip arrived in Dunedin yesterday. In addition to being a singor of renown, Madamo Albani possesses a most pleasing personality and a great oharm of manner that is equally effbotive on and off tho stage. "It is.a. very tired person you have come to Bee," said tho' eclobfity when interviewed yesterday. "You see,' I sang—let me see-r-eighteongsat Invorcargill on Monday night, and this morning I got up at 6 o'clock to catch tho train." Madamo Albani's .conversation was so animated and her appearance so fresh that it seomed difficult' to aKoeiato her with any tired feeling , . ■■■ . ■■ -. . . 'She said: "This, of course, is my first visit to New Zealand. JL- have boon to Australia before;, but I have often wished to come. here. I have.'bcim looking forward; intensely..to. seeing .your beautiful Duhcdin, and I do wish tho cloutta would' lift and let mo catch • a glimpse of tho harbour and the beautiful hills."

Madamo Albani went on to express, herself ohahned with tho reception accorded her at Invercargill. "I expected," she said, "to find plenty of musical talent and lovers of song in Duncdin, of course, bufc hardly in Invorcargill I was surprised. - The theatre was crowded, and hundreds had to go away, quite disappointed because there /VaSi no room for them. Ihad expected much of. a city with tho reputation of puncjlin,;but if the people here aro as enthusiastic as those at Invercargill I slu.ll be satisfied." '

Questioned concerning her'rcoeni travels, Madame Albani said'the last time she sang in England was at Mr'Santley'e jubilee concert, at tho Albert Hdll, London, when she-sang , ono of her favourites,• Mozart's ■ 'L'Amoro." This performance was attended by tho Prince and Princess of Wales, and the lajter invited her to the royal box, and talked atout Australasia, relating many incidents concerning her own travels in New Zealand and Australia; Madame ■Albaiii has recently sung in Melbourne, Adelaide, and Sydney, and had penetrated as far as Charters Towers, where she was greatly intorc-sted; in the mines-and miners. •Tho climate, sho'.thought, .was delightful, and it'gave her pleasure to stand m the balconies and sing to tho crowds below. A surprise had awaited her. at Hobart. She had teen told not to expect too much there, as the place was rather old-fashioned and the people: slow. She. had: watched some of them hurrying to the theatre, and thought they wero anything but slow. .They .gave her the warmest of; receptions, and an excellent impression of themselves and their city. Of course, in such ft short epaco of, time had hardly gathorod an impression of''Now Zealand, and then tie weather!—sho had not been able to Tiew the ' scenery from the Bluff to Dunedin. Tho rain turned everything •to a grey blur. Sho hoped the rain would lift, ae sho had so looked forward to seeing New 'Zealand' with its/ beautiful scenery and pretty .towns. Speaking about her music, Madamo ■Albani mentioned that sho had some given her by Jenny' Lind before'that singer's, tleath—her own cadenza. No one excepting hereejf could use it. It was one of-her most prized possessions. She intended ing , "L'Aincro" on. Wednesday night. Sho was only sorry' that; she could not stay longer in. DuneHin, but she- would have to go to Christchurch' on Saturday. She had often been told that : Christchurch was ono of tho best places in , the world for the voice, and she would be glad to have the opportunity to judge for herself. - Reverting to'. :New . Zealand and its scenery, Madame Albani professed herself entranced with the gorso that blazed in. ■yellow bloom along the railway. The rain could not spoil tho effect of that, and everything looked refreshingly fragrant and 'green. ■'•■•:'

' l'he great singer was unsparing in praises of hor supporters—Mr William Green, tenor, and Miss Mildred Jones, contralto. Mr Haydn Wcod had won golden opinions as a violinist, as had Mies Myrtle Meggy, pianiste, and Mr Theodore Flint, accompanist. Indeed, such a combination of 'talent with Madame Albani atite head could hardly fail to be Highly appreciated wherever, they ,go.' In regard to to future movement, Madame , Albani said tliat after leaving Auckland she was to visit Perth; and, after .touring Australia, to' go , on to India, where tho people had expressed a .desire to hear' her sing. She had never been there before, but ehe had many English friends there, as indeed sho had all tho world over. One of tho warmest of those in India was Lady Minto. The-Albani Company certainly comprises Borne of the best vocal and musical talent that -has ever visited New Zealand. By some connoisseurs Mr William Green' is considered! to bo the finest tenor in England, while trig admirers hail Mr Haydn Vfocd as having inherited the musical raa.ntlc of the great Pazanini. Tho piano solos of Miss Myrtle- Meggy have been considered everywhere to ha performances of exceptional brilliance, and Miss Mildred Jones possesses a. voice of great charm and owcctfTess. Only two concerts are to ho given in Dimedin, and these take place at His Majesty's Theatre to-night and tomorrow night. ■ ■ ' ,