MELBA’S AMBITIONS SCHEME.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 933, 23 January 1908, Page 18

MELBA’S AMBITIONS SCHEME.

According to an exchange, the completeness of the scheme which Madame Melba is projecting, to bring grand opera to Australia, will be recognised when it is stated that a long-estab ished European orchestra will form part of the company. The orchestra has, with the ar'.ists and chorus of the theatre, appeared at Covent Garden for several seasons with conspicuous success, and its director, Signor Dessana, views the project of an Australian tour very favourably. She may secure two renowned bassos in Plancon and Edouard de Deszke. Her great achievemen. will be to bring Dr Car' Muck, the celebrated conductor, on a tour of Austra ia. There will be two chefs d’orchestre, but they have not yet been definitely chosen. The repertoire, which it is proposed should be sung in Italian or French, will the old Italian

works, as well as modern realistic operas, like “La Boheme ” and “La Tosca.” “The Ring ” will be performed .in its entirety, including the “Valkyrie” and the popular operas of Wagner, such as “ Lohengrin ” and “ Tannhausen” “ The Meistersingers ” will also have their place in the repertoire. Among the modern operas mentioned are De Bussy’s “ Pe-'eas and Melisande,” and the “Samson and Deliah ” of Saint-Saens There will also be a couple of Puccini’s opears. Should the eminent soprano be able to carry out her intentions, it will be the most complete and ambitious scheme to produce grand opera in Australasia that has yet been projected. A Venetian journalist says that there are in existence at least three Italian operas founded on “ The Second Mis Tanqueray,” but Mdme Eleonora Dis n , who holds the Italian rights, will not permit the production of an opera ic -eiting of A. W. Pinero’s play. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Mr A. Boothman, who toured with the Macmahon Dramatic Company, is now the lecturer for the same firm's “ Robbery Under Arms” picture show in Australia. Boothman’s voice is one which can be heard. *** . • Paderewski made his first appearance this season in New York on Saturday, November 2, and Carnegie Hall could have been sold twice over. Nearly the whole of the house was sold out through mail orders before the box plan opened. The audience, at the close of the recital remained applauding for three-quarters of an hour, during which time Paderewski added six more pieces. “ There is ” (says the New York “ Evening Post ”) something in the shout of joy which goes up every time that Paderewski walks towards the piano to grant another extra, that one hears nowhere else. It is an ebullition of enthusiasm that impresses even the popular pianist, used though he is to demonstrations; and under its inuence he does his very best.”