MADAME MELBA

Wairarapa Daily Times, 19 January 1932, Page 5

MADAME MELBA

HARSHLY CRITICISED.

LONDON, Sunday

The newspapers regard as a sensation Beverley Nichols’s new novel “Evensong,” which' Mr. Jonathan Cape is publishing to-day. Emphasising that the novel deals with the decline of a world-famous soprano and pointing out that Air. Nichols for some years acted as the late Madame Melba’s secretary and that there are resemblances between the Madame Irela of the novel and the great Australian, the “Daily Express” begins its review: “As Melba might have said, Bravo, bravo, Beverley Nichols! A deucedly entertaining book and how perfectly of you to make Irela so like me.”

The “Daily Express” goes on: “Irela, which Mr. Nichols pronounces ‘lralya,’ is an elderly soprano whose physical and vocal decay is brutally painted by this cynical young man. ' We are told that the characters are fictitious, but those who knew Melba will wonder where was Nichols’s tongue when he made that statement. Much pointed and malicious play is made of Irela’s annual farewells. Moreover, Irela has queer physical tricks, such as tapping the ground with the toe of Jier right foot, licking her upper lip, and a very determined crossing of her feet when nervous or ill-tempered. Melba had exactly the same mannerisms. Irela is .terribly jealous of Baba, a young soprano in her company.” The “Daily Express” adds: “Melba could never bear any challenge to her supremacy as Queen of Song.”