New Zealand’s Prima Donna.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 25, 22 June 1910, Page 16

New Zealand’s Prima Donna.

MLSS NORA D’ ARG EL’S PHENOMENAL SUCCESS. METEORIC CAREER. LONDON, May b. Nothing succeeds like success, as Miss Nora D’Argel, the young New Zealand prima donna, is rapidly proving. Miss ■D'Argel only returned to England last .week after her magnificent triumphs at Nice, and she was at once inundated with ©tiers of engagements. .She has been booked for the Beecham ©pera season in London. She opened on Monday as Olynthia, in “Tales from Hoffman,” and later on creates the soprano part in George Clutsam s opera. “A Sammer Night.” I am told that so enthusiastic was Mr Clutsam over the young New Zealander s beautiful voiee that after listening to Miss D’Argel’s singing he sat up all night composing a special solo for her in his opera. * Miss D’Argel made her debut in Nice only six months ago, and her success lias’ been remarkable. She is looking very fit and well for her venture in the London operatic world. No fewer than twenty-seven letters and telegrams poured in on Miss D Argel, offering her engagements, as soon as it ■was known she was in London. They came from as far as the Boston and Manhattan Opera Houses, from Berlin, and other Continental music centres, and from managers in London. She was approached by the authorities of Covent Garden Opera House, the goal of every operatic singer, and was asked to gwe a trial of her voiee But she declined the invitation. “Not yet, - ’ she said, ‘I hare had onlv six months’ stage experience, and I don’t want to sing at Covent Garden until I am thoroughly trained in stage-work. The Continental opera houses are the best training ground, and I shall sing on the Continent for the present. As for Covent Garden, I am content to bide my time." And sure enough Miss D’Argel, who is a very determined young lady, with very definite opinons of her own. turned her back on all sorts of tempting offers to remain in England. She leaves London next Tuesday for Paris to settle an engagement to sing at Lyons. But in her decision not to appear in London for the present the young prima donna made one exception. Mr Clutsam, •whose opera Mr Beecham is producing, is the husband of .Mme. Minna Fischer, who trained Miss D’Argel when the latter first came to London. As a return for the help and encouragement she received from Mme. Fischer at the outset of her career. Miss D’Argel consented to take part in the Beecham opera season in London this month. Mr Beecham, who is one of the leading conductors in the musical world, heard the young New Zealander sing for the first time at a dinner at Hampstead last week. He was astonished at the quality of her voice and instantly offered her an engagement. For a long time she would not consent, but finally gave way. She did not care, however, for the principal solo in Mr Clutsam’s new opera, and said so. But the composer, delighted at the prospect of getting her to create the soprano part, announced that he would go home and write the best song he had ever composed. And after sitting up all night he produced it, and Miss D’Argel will sing it in the opera. Her success has been phenomenal. It has all been accomplished within six months, and there seems no doubt that a golden future awaits this gifted young queen of song. Meanwhile, in spite of her meteoric rise to fame, she replies to all who invite her to talk of her ciareer: ‘’No, no, Wait till I’ve done something?”