AUSTRALIAN SOCIAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7545, 30 October 1902, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN SOCIAL NOTES.

A LADY'S LETTER FROM MELBOURNE. Oct. 15. The first series of five concerts given by Madame Melba and h,er company here came to a clos-e en Tuesday evening, and I our famous visitor left yeMerday afternoon I for Sydney, where shf> will remain for a short time, returning to Melbourne in time for the races. It is hardly possible, to express the '-which these concerts have given 1o music-loving people, and it is delightful to know that .there is a strong probability that Me.lba ; . will, appear in selections from grand opera after her concert touring in the other States ond in New Zealand is over. Jt if true that, according, to report, Madame is not. a very remarkable actress, but she h-^.such a charming presence, surh a perfect walk and such a beautiful figure that- to watch her on tie stage, could not be anything but a pleasure. and to listen to her" in any of her great roles would indeed be. something worth living for. As to the concert series just concluded, it was one triumph, increasing in intensity from first to lust. Every night the great hall was thronged with an audience, utterly carried away by il s entlsiistasui, und every niglit dozens of basquets and bouquets of exquisite flowers were laid at the feet of the gracious and charming singer. Of Madame Melba's art you will have an opportunity of judging for yourselves, as I hear she* is to give one concert in each of the four large New Zealand towns, but I think most people will agree tha.t both her an ar.d tlie quality of her voice are above criticism, a'mo.-t above, expressed, admiration. All one want? to do is to listen, and listen again an:l asiain. There is a good deal of ta.!k ;ibout her being an "unemotional" finger, but it seems possible that those who say so prvhaps do not realise that hers is the very highest form of art, quite above and independent of any tricks of the trade which a more moderate singer might employ with advantage. Melba sings with'tho purity, ease and spontaneity of a bir.i, o.nd yet one feels that it is a. human bird, not merely the little songster trilling out the one lay. however beautiful, which Nature, has given it, but that the human brain is directing and controlling that lovely voice, and willing it to sing as it wishes. Madame. -Mr-lba's taste in evening gowns seems to be quite perfection, and each night she has worn a few c;f the collection of jewels which is <?uid to be 5»o wonderful. Lh«L Saturday she had ;n low diamond liiita, which suited thf- sh^pe of her head very well, a tmqtioiv and dia-mond necklet, and a large viirioiisly-shaped ornament of the gillie .stones on the front of her drrs>\ ab;.> the iong and very beauiif'.il nroo. of poarls which she is bar oh- ,-jvcr j-p-pti without. Hor dross on th* same evening was of orMm-eolourod arrordeon-plFatccl cirpe 110 L'hinr, with flor.nr/s of we I.id delicate lace, with which the low bodice was also trimmed. Two -jasrh end? of olive green chiffon fell v.vfr th 3 train nn-'l tiny rosette.* of the same rol-jur r>n hrr transparent elbor.v sloevos.*'' .' . ;i Tho Town ' Hall, with its great audience of between two and' thice thousand pecpk>, nil in full dress. mad« a. brilliant sight. Diamonds wer* there in plenty, and I y<vw one pretty hair ornament in tho form of a wrsath of leaves sparkling on the head of a Coronation visitor who has just returned Lome. Lady Tennyson was dressed in black with a high buckle of diamonds surmountod by a red liow in her hair. Lady Htitton. who w;;s \vith her Kxcellency, looked well in white. Amongst the other perfoimer>- »t tbese concert? by far th-e mo^t interesting; is Signoiina >Sassoli. the young Italian harpist. This child-she is s;iid to be only fourteen — comes on t<> tho platform in her white muslin fiock und pink ribbon-, ar.l plays a.« if her enoimous audienc*.' simply did not exist; her wholo soul i= evidently in hor music, and sho brushes aw.iy the difficulties of her mnsi difficult instrument with quite marvellous ea?e. No harp playing to approach it has be°n heard bei'e before. Mndame Melba gn.v? a dinner pnrty "ii Sunday evening, at which the tabl p dp'"oralion« were rather new. The-y consisted _.«f rnpes of white flowers. hung over. -t lie head's. f>{ the diners, while the table- itself was almost covered with scarlet blo.ssqm?. It- i* :-ail tha.t- one of her guest.?. 1o!d her that }•■<■>■ h;id ■ ii«.v.t henrd th° iwi?ic "f. " n Mrthrm°.-" v '.H-vo.njv^i Ins hostess *ang fov^ v;i! of Niimi's >onirs 1o )»»>-;> <-f>nsi.^rnb!fi p'-psent- wlvn on" i-onifs to think of the .•iveragft worth of Mada-ir.e's songs! l.adv Trunvfon caw a s-mall affonmon p.uiy'o7l to lii'H-l M,i<lam« M.-Ih.i .-ml Signii-iina's.-isyoli. "\ I i > s fla'.ke. ih<- riiMiirht-M 1 of '.he Si at" llnvt>ni<>r. «'ho v. (>• ih^re. -sang two rnng-s, and. M^ndame \\Ah\\ iuToinpsiiiod her. Miss Clarke :HKlic-d f-inginj; for two years under !\farchoM, Mci im's f;uuoi:s teacher. On the .-■iPirtrt evening Sir Samuel Hilloti. >T,-iyor of M-.'lbotune. an.l Lady Giiloii ■ a r>2crption ii: Ihe Town Hall ii; ::our oi Mu'lauif MAiki. Tin.- giu-M oi ;l,e evening wore a- io\vlv you 11 <>! luiijUu: r l>liio tfilk veiled with ii filmy ovei-d;.--.. ii la". v . 0:1 wnu-it ""y oi:nuo;;.!s t^ii-iilly;.- :. 1.-.i'ly (';iil(»1*. pit>--:''!i- ii i.< I' wilL. :• I ! 1■ f T l l l l -■ ? "f vrllov. I- • liitiil i>i«ppi«'s. ,ijiH ninny < -1 : 1 *■ : tri'ii'.ls a No. brought flou-ei-"!. iui»i.l 1 In* pnma d^iin-'.'s arui'3 v ere loa/kd, Qf

course the cwrtfd v»f aitista* «£«e«a« xraa : enormous, and everyone seernw «alo«4 to - shake hands with Melba, so that although ■] no formal presentations ver* made, a. con- - tinuoug stream of people passed her without, ceasing almost the whole evening, some introducing themselves and chatting for a. , moment or two. but all received with plea- i sant and unaffected' courtesy. OLIVIA. ]