MELBA OPERA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19102, 22 February 1924, Page 4

MELBA OPERA.

TWO GUINEAS A SEAT, (Ebom Otra Own Cokbebpootbot.) SYDNEY February 14. The prices to be charged for Melba opera, have come as a bit of a shock to the music-loving public, bait to soften the blow the artistic director of the company has been busy pointing out through, the press that the prices to be charged are 150 per cent cheaper than those in Europe and in America. It is announced that for the open ins performance in Australia the price for reserved stalls and the dress circle will -be two gnineas, -while the added tax and booking office fee will make a total of £2 5a 9cl Boxes to hold lour will cost £B, which with the tax, will bring it up to £9 2s 3d. For all subsequent first nights the price of each seat will bo £1 3s, and for boxes £4 11s od. One of the afternoon papers, commenting on the charges, points out that even before the war boxes at Covent Gardens, lor instance, although they were as much at £B, could be obtained also at four, three, two and a-half gnineas, that in IKin don only last December, boxes cost £3 8s and £2"Bs, and that, as against the price of £1 3s for all subsequent first nights for each seat at the Melba opera, the highest price in London last December was 12s. Melba is not likely to lift up her voice to crowded audiences at tho prices which have been fixed for her opera season.