MISS IRENE AINSLEY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8204, 7 August 1906, Page 6

MISS IRENE AINSLEY.

(From Our London Correspondent). LONDON, June 27. Miss Irene Ainsley, of Auckland, a olever New Zealand artiste, was briefly referred to in my last letter. Miss Ainsley is. known in Auokland as Miss Ivy Ainsley. Her remarkably fine contralto voice early attracted the notice of Lord Ranfurly. She was also much encouraged by Mrs Myers, of Auckland, an elderly handsome lady living not very far from the Grand HoH. Her son is Mayor 6f Auckland. Madame Melba., heard Miss Ainsley,_and felt tbat ; with training ehe should make a name for herself, and advised a term of European tuition, and has. all through proved a moat generous friend and patron. On her arrival in England Miss Ainsley studied with Madame Fischer, who did wonders for the voioe, producing it perfectly and securing nfisolute evenness of range and beauty of middle register. At Madame Fisoher'S pupils' concert Miss Ainsley was a deoided success. In order to afford a chance for a term in'a really, musical atmosphere, Madame Melba advised Paris, where Miss Ainsley has been for the last seven, months with Madame Mafchilde MarcLesi. Madame Melba nas paid all expenses, even to Worth dresses. i All through Miss Ainsley has received regular lessons from Madame Melba herself, who is the greatest Jiving exponent of perfeot production, breathing, phrasing, and vocal exeoution. : Miss Ainsley made her debut in 1 Paris on May 19th at- the Salle 1 Hoohe, under the name of Mdlle. j Zealanda, and made a triumphant > nuooes?. Her singing caused a furore. As she is very young it must naturally be assumed that she still has much to learn, but Madame Melba declares that ehe already sings "Ombra inai fa" better than any she has ever heard.. . Madame Melba will pay the entire expenses of ' concert -in Beohstein Utll on July 10th, and gives the proceeds to Miss Ainsley. The Prince and Princess of Wales, other Royalties, the Dukes and' Duchesses of Norfolk, Sutherland, and Marlborough, and other notable friends of Madame Meiba'Will be present The suoaess of the concert is more than assured, and there will not be half enough accommodation. The Nbw Zealand Association will send a representative body. |A notice in the roonjo of that Association, states that Madame Melba has placed the fro.it row of area stalls atihe disposal of the 'members at half the ordinary price per head. The difference in prioi she will pay herself, There is not the slightest doubt that the house could be filled twiae over, and at the full nrioes, but Madame 1 Melba is anxious that there should be a good muster of the fellow colonists of the young New Zealander on the occasion %ot her professional j debut in London. As mentioned in I my last letter, the date was altered bydofireof the Prince of Wales from June 3rd to June 10th. Madame Melba has oonsented to play some of the accompaniments for her protegee on,this oocaeion. On June 15tb Miss Ainßley sang at the At Home of Mrs Christie Miller, with Madame Melba, her fee being 25 guineas, ' i ■ -